What a difference 24 hours can make. Just yesterday, href=”http://google.com/” rel=”homepage” target=”_blank” title=”Google”>Google was accused of obstructing an investigation from the Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), but today the country’s telecom regulator has announced a tie-up with the search giant.
The deal, which has seen a memorandum of understanding struck between the two parties, is separate to the KFTC investigation and it will see Google work to “support the country’s Internet ventures”, according to a Bloomberg report.
Further details of the partnership are unclear right now as Google is yet to make a statement, however details of the agreement first emerged in November, when Google executive chairman href=”http://www.google.com/corporate/execs.html#eric” rel=”homepage” target=”_blank” title=”Eric Schmidt”>Eric Schmidt spent time in the country. Reports back then suggested that Google would select local projects to which it would provide development funding and advice, enabling Korean talent to learn from the experience and insights of the US company.
Google has endured its difficulties in the Asian country. Aside from the current investigation into alleged unfair practices around mobile search. Police raided the company’s offices back in May over what they perceived to be illegally obtained tracking data, a subject which also saw Apple investigated in the country. The company was subsequently cleared when the investigation concluded in September.
