Google chief urges S.Korea to open up Internet

SEOUL — Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt Tuesday praised South Korea's advances in the IT industry but urged it to ease regulations on Internet use.

"It's my view, and I think Google's view, that regulations on the Internet in Korea could be more open and more modern," he told reporters, urging Seoul officials to examine "more liberal policies" of other countries.

The South is one of the world's most wired nations, with 95 percent of homes using broadband Internet. It also has the world's top Internet download speeds, according to a study released by Pando Networks.

But a law requires users to post their real names when uploading material.

In 2009 Google rejected the South's request to require users to provide their real names when uploading videos on YouTube.

Last year it shut down Android's games category for South Korean users, to bypass an obligation that mobile games be rated before their release.

AFP