Kim Jong-cheol, the nominee for Chairperson of the Korea Media and Communications Commission, sparked controversy on the 16th by saying a policy by the Australian government — the world's first to block children and teens under 16 from using social media (SNS) — could be introduced domestically. The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) explained, saying it was "seeking alternatives."
At a confirmation hearing of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee at the National Assembly that day, Kim said, in response to a question about the need to adopt Australia's policy domestically, "I think it is something that we absolutely should do."
He went on, "I believe youth protection is a core task among the important issues," adding, "I am determined to pursue this as a priority."
The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) then distributed an explanatory note, saying, "At this point, it does not mean we are reviewing restrictions on SNS use by those under 16," and added, "We intend to seek multifaceted alternatives, such as strengthening the consent authority of legal guardians."
In his opening remarks, Kim stressed, "We will respond effectively to the harms associated with false and manipulated information that fundamentally threaten human dignity and the democratic basic order, the fundamental values of the people's lives," and added, "We will apply a zero-tolerance principle to illegal information such as drugs or sexual exploitation materials."
Regarding criticism that the process of withdrawing from platforms such as Coupang is excessively complicated, Kim said, "We will guarantee equal levels for sign-up and withdrawal procedures." He also said he personally experienced the complicated Coupang withdrawal process and what is commonly called "digital kidnapping," in which users are forcibly redirected online to the Coupang site.