플랫폼의 관련지역시장획정: OTA 분야를 중심으로

The Online Travel Agency (OTA) sector has rapidly developed over the past decade. OTAs in both global and Korean markets have provided intermediary services to Korean end users, thereby improving consumer welfare. In particular, the rapid growth of OTAs has intensified competition among business users (accommodation providers), leading to improvements in both pricing and service quality. As the OTA industry continues to grow, it is timely to address issues related to dynamic efficiency and competition in the Korean market. In the light of ongoing innovation in this sector, conducting various analyses of the relevant market is essential. Several competition authorities, including that in the EU, have engaged in debates concerning digital ecosystems – issues that are directly relevant to market definition in the OTA sector. Therefore, it appears that the Korea Fair Trade Commission should consider the theories and practices related to digital ecosystems, as well as various tools for analysing competitive constraints in digital markets. Accordingly, this article aims to examine the definition of the relevant geographic market in multi-sided markets, including that of OTAs. Most importantly, the purpose of defining the relevant geographic market is to assess the competitive constraints and potential anti-competitive effects posed by platforms in question. This analysis will also consider the possible competitive constraints imposed by multinational gatekeepers.