Chairperson Kim Jong-cheol of the Korea Media and Communications Commission emphasized preventing the distribution of false or manipulated information in a New Year's address for 2026.
Chairperson Kim said at the Korea Media and Communications Commission kickoff ceremony held at the Government Complex Gwacheon on the 2nd, "We will create a safe broadcasting, media and communications environment," adding, "By establishing a system to prevent the distribution of false or manipulated information, we will form a sound arena for public discourse where freedom of expression is guaranteed."
Emphasizing the role of the Korea Media and Communications Commission as "the guardian of the Constitution and the creator of a fair media order," Kim presented three policy tasks: △ creating a safe broadcasting, media and communications environment △ balancing regulation and promotion for industrial innovation and revitalization △ strengthening media sovereignty for the public. In particular, Kim set the establishment of a system to prevent the distribution of false or manipulated information as the top priority and treated as a key task legal and regulatory improvements that strengthen service providers' responsibility for illegal and harmful information online.
For industrial revitalization, Kim mentioned innovating outdated broadcasting regulations, boosting AI-based production industries, and building an integrated media legal framework including OTT. For strengthening media sovereignty, Kim put forward revisions to enforcement decrees and rules to implement the three broadcasting laws, improvements to the legal framework for public broadcasting, and expansion of organizations related to coordinating broadcasting, media and communications portfolios.
Kim also added, "Over the past few years, the core tasks of broadcasting and communications administration have not been properly pursued," and "together with the Commissioners who will newly join, we will push ahead with our work with a sense of speed."
Meanwhile, on the 30th of last month, the Cabinet approved the "law to eradicate false or manipulated information" (amendment to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection). The bill aims to block illegal and false information spreading through information and communications networks and to protect victims, and includes provisions that would impose liability for damages up to five times the loss on offenders who intentionally disseminate false information. However, civil society groups are raising concerns about a chilling effect on press and freedom of expression, and criticism is mounting that limits on punitive damage claims against politicians and large corporations were not reflected.
The government and the ruling party said information pertaining to matters of public interest would be excluded from the scope of aggravated damages, and the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) plans to complete revisions to subordinate statutes by July 5.