Chairperson Kim Jong-cheol of the Korea Media and Communications Commission said at the inauguration ceremony on the 19th that resetting the responsibility and fairness of broadcast media and breaking outdated regulations are core tasks.
Chairperson Kim said at the Korea Media and Communications Commission inauguration ceremony in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 19th that, based on three principles—reestablishing the public responsibility and fairness of broadcast media; dismantling outdated regulatory frameworks that do not fit changed circumstances; and responding firmly to the negative functions of digital media—he would push reforms to correct the fundamentals and clear the sources of media and communications policy.
Kim said, "We are passing through a period of great transition in which the framework of media is fundamentally being overturned," adding, "The boundary between traditional and new media has collapsed, and the global media ecosystem led by OTT and platform operators has become a borderless battlefield." He said technological progress has brought convenience but at the same time has handed us thorny assignments, including polarization of public opinion driven by confirmation bias, a flood of false or manipulated information, and reverse discrimination between global platforms and domestic operators.
Chairperson Kim said, "In a time of chaos, the path forward for the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC), which must faithfully fulfill its role as the creator of a fair media order granted by the Constitution and the law, is the restoration of constitutional spirit," adding, "The core values of the Constitution—human dignity and the democratic basic order—are the roots of media, whose essence is communication." He added, "Only by restoring constitutional spirit can we freely and harmoniously realize freedom of expression and protect the people's power and media sovereignty within a fair communication order."
On the public responsibility and fairness of broadcast media, Chairperson Kim said, "We will guarantee the independence of broadcasting while pursuing a balance of autonomy and responsibility so that freedom does not degenerate into license," adding, "We will enforce strict discipline and provide support befitting public responsibility so that broadcasting becomes a melting pot for social integration, not a tool that amplifies social conflict."
On dismantling outdated regulations, Kim said, "Although similar services are provided, the current broadcasting and telecommunications legal framework applies different regulations to broadcasting, telecommunications, and internet platforms, creating a contradiction of asymmetric regulation that needs to be resolved," adding, "We will boldly abolish unnecessary ex ante regulations that block innovation and shift to a system centered on ex post regulation." He continued, "In particular, regarding issues such as network usage fees between domestic internet service providers and global content providers and unfair practices by platform operators, we will seek ways to create a fair competitive environment," adding, "We will respect economic freedom to the fullest so that the media industry can display diversity and creativity, but we will never tolerate license that undermines the fair order that underpins competition and neglects the social responsibility of corporations."
On the negative functions of media, he said, "We will extend constitutionally guaranteed personal rights and the pursuit of happiness into digital space," adding, "We will respond firmly to false or manipulated information, malicious comments, and digital sex crime videos that contaminate the public sphere of democracy." He said freedom of expression will be guaranteed to the maximum, while making clear that acts that kill another's character and destroy public trust are not within the realm of freedom protected by the Constitution.
On his way to work at the Government Complex Gwacheon that day, he said, "On the way here, I stopped by the National Cemetery to renew my resolve before the patriots who died for the country," adding, "I will faithfully perform my role as the creator of a fair order that realizes media sovereignty." Chairperson Kim added, "There have been many regulatory amendment projects and many have been delayed, so once the commission is formed, I will make it the top priority to prepare so we can promptly process the agenda items."
Earlier, at his confirmation hearing, Chairperson Kim, asked about the need to introduce domestically a policy blocking SNS use by children and adolescents under 16, said, "I think it is something that obviously should be done," indicating it could be reviewed. As controversy grew at the time, the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) explained, "At this point, it does not mean we are reviewing restricting SNS use by those under 16." On questions that day about regulating adolescents' use of social media (SNS), Chairperson Kim said, "Adolescents are subjects to be protected but also bearers of basic rights," adding, "We will respond by comprehensively examining both the positive and negative aspects so that we can protect rights and also put in place safety measures for victims."