The reasons for the blockades are unknown, but the resolution also comes after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States is “definitely considering” banning Chinese social media apps, TikTok.
South Korea’s communications regulator on Wednesday fined TikTok Pte Ltd, the publisher of the app, with 186 million won ($154320) for collecting non-public data from young people under the age of 14 without the consent of the guardians and for failing to disclose or notify when non-public information is sent. data abroad.
TikTok required voluntary preventive measures within 30 days, and the regulator planned to continue discussions with TikTok on data security issues, said an official from the Korean Communications Commission.
K-Pop star accounts like Rain, TWICE, Mamamoo and HyunA were blocked when they saw Douyin from Friday.
Douyin and TikTok operated independently and the accounts operated in TikTok, a TikTok spokeswoman said.
Douyin’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment. Both TikTok and Douyin are owned by Chinese company ByteDance.
The Chinese property of TikTok, one of the fastest developing virtual platforms ever seen, has been subject to scrutiny for problems such as user knowledge management. India banned TikTok and other Chinese programs in June. Douyin is not available in app stores outside mainland China.
ByteDance has quietly taken a number of steps in recent months to move global decision-making and functions out of China, Reuters reported in May.
K-pop star control agencies have commented.
China amassed 196.6 million downloads of Douyin in the first quarter, or 9.7% more than total downloads of TikTok, according to the knowledge of Sensor Tower Commercial.
K-Pop concerts, tourism and South Korean corporations were severely affected by a Chinese boycott in 2017 after Seoul deployed a US-made missile defense formula despite Beijing’s objections.
Reporting through Joyce Lee in Seoul and Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Additional reports from the Shanghai Press Room; Edited through Stephen Coates
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