Netflix Hikes, TVING Stays Put: Your 2026 OTT Discount Guide

One day, I checked my credit card statement and realized I was spending over 30,000 KRW every month on subscriptions: 17,000 KRW for Netflix, 13,500 KRW for TVING, plus YouTube Premium.

I was essentially paying for services I didn’t even have time to fully enjoy. So, I decided to dissect each plan.

Netflix, Disney+, and TVING compete with new releases every year, while SKT, KT, and LGU+ each weave OTT services into their plans in different ways. Understanding this structure allows you to watch the same content for much less. From the pricing structures of each OTT platform to the actual math behind carrier discounts, I’ll guide you through it step by step.

Netflix Pricing: How Much Should You Pay After the Account Sharing Crackdown?

As of September 2026, Netflix operates on three tiers: Ad-supported (7,000 KRW), Standard (13,500 KRW), and Premium (17,000 KRW).

The ad-supported plan rose from 5,500 KRW to 7,000 KRW in May 2025, while Standard and Premium prices remain unchanged.

Both the ad-supported and Standard tiers offer Full HD, while 4K and spatial audio are exclusive to the Premium tier.

The most impactful change isn’t the price, but the crackdown on account sharing.

The ‘party-sharing’ model, where four friends split a Premium subscription for about 4,000 KRW each, is now blocked.

To share an account with someone living in a different household, you must pay an additional 5,000 KRW per person.

If three people share, the cost becomes the base 17,000 KRW plus 10,000 KRW for two extra members, totaling 27,000 KRW—or roughly 9,000 KRW per person. The strategy to increase the number of actual paying users rather than just total subscribers is clear.

Content-wise, they remain strong.

With global hits like Squid Game Season 2, Sweet Home Season 3, and the success of K-Pop Demon Hunters, the “binge-watch for a specific event” strategy remains valid.

Their recommendation algorithm and ‘continue watching’ features are optimized for a binge-watching experience that keeps you up all night once you start.

If you can’t miss out on global blockbusters and K-originals, it’s a choice worth making even with the higher price tag.

Looking at the price hike and account crackdown together reveals the bigger picture. In a market where subscriber growth has plateaued, Netflix has long shifted its focus from acquiring new users to maximizing revenue per existing user.

The increase in the ad-supported tier and the fragmentation of shared accounts into individual payments both serve the same goal.

For viewers, this means finding ways to watch cheaper than before is becoming increasingly difficult.

Disney+ and TVING: Two Platforms Relying on Content

As of September 2026, Disney+ maintains its two tiers: Standard (9,900 KRW) and Premium (13,900 KRW).

If you pay for a full year upfront, the costs are 99,000 KRW and 139,000 KRW respectively—a discount of about 16%—so an annual subscription is better if you plan to stick with it.

Standard supports up to Full HD on 2 devices, while Premium offers 4K UHD on 4 devices; if you’re watching alone, Standard is plenty.

Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar IP are essential for fans. While early critics said there was “nothing to watch besides Marvel,” since the success of Moving, they have consistently pushed K-originals like Trigger and Hyper Knife.

They also feature parental controls and a ‘GroupWatch’ feature for watching with friends who live far away.

TVING: The Platform Built on K-Content and KBO

TVING has grown its presence with tvN and JTBC dramas and variety shows, plus exclusive KBO (Korean baseball) broadcasts.

Their pricing is the most complex in Korea, divided into four tiers: Ad-supported Standard (5,500 KRW), Basic (9,500 KRW), Standard (13,500 KRW), and Premium (17,000 KRW).

What’s worth noting is the comeback of the Ad-supported Standard plan. It offers 1080p resolution at the lowest price, whereas the 9,500 KRW Basic plan is limited to 720p. Essentially, they are offering a cheaper price and better quality in exchange for watching ads.

KBO broadcasts are now core to TVING’s identity.

For baseball fans, this means shifting from ’event viewing’—logging in only for big hits—to a daily habit throughout the season.

Despite long-standing complaints about the app being ‘heavy,’ they continue to invest in live-specialized features like multiview and timelines.

The merger between TVING and Wavve, which began with an MOU in late 2023, has been drifting for three years.

Even after the Fair Trade Commission gave conditional approval, the second-largest shareholder, KT, has delayed final consent, leaving the matter unresolved. However, practical collaboration started early, and as of June 2026, a ‘Double Pass’ was launched, allowing users to pay for both services with one subscription. It’s an extra option for those who already use both platforms before the merger is finalized.

However, the industry is already discussing potential price hikes post-merger, so there is no guarantee these current bundle prices will last.

The Three Carriers: Different Ways of Selling OTT

Paying full price for OTT is for people who haven’t used carrier discounts yet.

The catch is that SKT, KT, and LGU+ all approach this in completely different ways.

SKT’s T Universe isn’t just an OTT discount; it’s about creating a subscription ecosystem by using OTT as bait to bundle perks from 11st, CU, and Google One.

With products like ‘Universe Pass Netflix’ and bundles including TVING and Wavve, the lock-in effect—the feeling that “if I cancel this, I lose all my other perks”—is becoming stronger.

KT’s ‘Choice’ is simpler. If you use a 5G Choice plan of 90,000 KRW or more per month, you get to choose one service from Netflix, Disney+, or YouTube Premium for free.

It’s more flexible than SKT in terms of choice and is geared toward locking in high-ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) premium customers.

Comparing the three companies reveals different target audiences.

SKT uses a wide net of benefits to catch as many customers as possible.

KT offers choices to premium customers who are already paying for expensive plans.

Meanwhile, LGU+, which we will look at next, tries to keep users through price alone by letting them pick and choose regardless of their mobile plan.

While they all use the term ‘OTT discount,’ they are actually playing three different games.

LGU+ Yoodok: A La Carte and VIP Coupons for the Lowest Price

Of the three, the one with the biggest actual discount is LGU+ Yoodok.

It uses an a la carte model where you select only the subscriptions you want. You get a discount for picking even one, and the rate increases up to 50% as you add more.

On top of this, a 4,000 KRW additional discount coupon provided monthly to U+ VIP/VVIP members can be applied. This coupon remains in effect in 2026.

For example, if you get a 10% discount on the TVING Ad-supported Standard plan (5,500 KRW) via Yoodok, it drops to 4,950 KRW. Apply the 4,000 KRW VIP coupon, and it falls to 950 KRW per month.

It is truly possible to watch TVING for less than the price of a cup of coffee.

Beyond these coupons, LGU+ continuously adds promotional discounts to Netflix and YouTube Premium bundles to keep heavy users locked within the Yoodok ecosystem.

Calculating OTT Costs by Type: The Answer Varies

I’ve calculated costs based on three typical user profiles.

If baseball and dramas are your life, LGU+ Yoodok (with VIP status) is the best bet.

You can watch TVING Standard for 97,800 KRW per year (8,150 KRW/month), which is much cheaper than buying TVING’s own annual pass (145,800 KRW).

If you want to watch global new releases as soon as they drop, you likely use both Netflix Premium and YouTube Premium. In this case, Yoodok’s ‘Double Streaming Annual Pass’ is advantageous. The list price is 18,900 KRW/month, but with the VIP coupon, it drops to 14,900 KRW/month. It requires a one-year commitment, but in terms of total value, it’s the best.

If you are a variety-seeking household that subscribes to Netflix, Disney+, and TVING all at once, LGU+ Yoodok is the only choice. The structure rewards bundling with higher discounts, making it overwhelmingly cheaper than other methods.

Things to Check Before Bundling with Carrier Discounts

• The Shackles of Contracts: Some carrier bundles or Yoodok products have early termination fees. If you change subscriptions often, contract-free products are better.
• Useless Perks: Don’t get hooked just because things are bundled in. Perks you don’t actually use are worth zero.
• Management Hassle: Subscribing through a carrier can be one step more cumbersome for cancellations or changes compared to direct subscriptions.
• Prices Constantly Change: Just as the Netflix ad-supported rate rose in a year, carrier discount conditions and coupon policies change frequently due to promotions ending or restructuring. It’s safest to check the latest conditions on the official app or page right before signing up.

Ultimately, the Answer Lies in Your OTT Combination

If you want the freedom to switch platforms easily, individual annual OTT subscriptions are the way to go. If you are a high-tier mobile user who doesn’t want the hassle, SKT T Universe or KT Choice are better.

If you want to save every single won, LGU+ Yoodok is the clear winner—especially if you have VIP status; there’s no reason to look anywhere else.

When I first opened my card statement, I just wanted to cancel everything. But upon inspection, the problem wasn’t the number of subscriptions, but that the services I actually used didn’t match my payment paths.

I was paying full price for Netflix and paying for TVING without any carrier bundles, so the money leaking out wasn’t immediately obvious.

In the end, the most important thing is the habit of regularly checking which services you actually use frequently and how much you are currently paying for them. Just checking that alone will save you thousands of won every month.