공정한 가상세계 구현을 위한 법적 제언 - 메타버스의 경쟁법적 규율을 중심으로 -

Humanity has long attempted to expand the real world. The Cloud Dream of the Nine, a novel by Seopo Kim Man-Jung, set in the Tang Dynasty of China, is about a Buddhist monk, Seong-jin, who, in a dream, becomes Yang So-yu, rises to the position of prime minister, and takes eight fairy women as his wife. It is a story about waking up from a dream and feeling futile, devoting himself to Buddhist practice, and going to paradise. The novel created a virtual world in his dreams. Humanity’s attempt to expand the real world by creating a virtual world is being realized by Metaverse technology. The Metaverse is a concept that implements the real world into the virtual world, and a specific person could only create it. Leading Metaverse platforms are being developed by big tech companies such as Naver’s Zepeto and Meta Platforms, Inc.’s Horizon Worlds, so the Metaverse that extends the real world might be developed by big tech companies. The fair operation of the Metaverse created by big tech companies is essential for developing the Metaverse. If the ecosystem implemented by the Metaverse operates only for the benefit of the Metaverse platform operator, innovation would be hindered. Discussion on the Metaverse platform might be an extension of regulatory discussions on general online platforms. However, given the ripple effect of the Metaverse, the adverse effects of unfair trade practices by market-dominant Metaverse platform operators seem challenging to compare. This study examines legal issues so the Metaverse could become a fair market. This study reviews why market-dominant operators would emerge in the Metaverse and the status of platform monopoly regulations. The Metaverse platform encompasses the app market, distribution platform, and social media characteristics. Regarding the nature of the app market, this study suggests a desirable role for Metaverse platform operators. Concerning the nature of the distribution platform, this study considers the issue as a distribution platform, supporting behavior between firms in the process of business expansion, and issues arising in the brokerage process. This study analyzes the exploitation of personal information about the nature of social media.