The Broadcasting and Media Communications Commission (BMCC) has identified 'Media Basic Society' as a key initiative for the second half of 2026. The plan aims to ensure citizens' rights to media participation, access, and choice while enhancing age verification and parental control features to prevent excessive use of social media among youth. The commission is also working on establishing a transparency center to address disinformation and will soon decide on the additional designation of DC Inside as a major information and communication service provider. Furthermore, policies to prevent a repeat of the JTBC incident in the paid broadcasting sector will be announced later this year.
During a briefing on presidential work held on July 15 at the Government Complex in Gwacheon, BMCC Chairperson Ko Min-soo stated, "We will adopt 'Media Basic Society' as the fundamental direction for policy implementation in the second half of the year, focusing on national tasks that enhance citizens' rights to media participation, access, and choice. We will prioritize expanding media education across different life stages, strengthening media access for people with disabilities, and protecting users in the age of AI while refining media-related laws and systems."
Specifically, the initiative will include tailored media education reflecting the characteristics of different life stages and enhancing capabilities to respond to AI. The commission will support media program production and implement policies to block illegal and harmful information.
In terms of access rights, the BMCC plans to strengthen media access for people with disabilities and establish a 'Media Inclusion Plan.' This will include measures to improve media accessibility during disasters by providing support for disaster broadcasting production.
To ensure choice rights, the commission will create a regulatory framework to enhance transparency in AI-generated content and recommendation algorithms available online. It will also promote integrated media legislation.
By the end of this month, the BMCC will finalize regulations to prevent youth overuse of social media. This will involve strengthening obligations for service providers to verify users' identities and ages, as well as mandating parental control features that allow parents to monitor their children's content usage and behavior. Features that encourage overuse, such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, will not be allowed without parental consent. Shin Seon-kyung, head of the BMCC's User Policy Division, added, "We will work to ensure that this is discussed in the National Assembly as soon as possible after the proposal is made by lawmakers."
The BMCC is also accelerating the implementation of the revised Telecommunications Business Act to combat disinformation. Plans are in place to establish a transparency center to support fact-checking activities by major information and communication service providers, thereby increasing platform accountability. Chairperson Ko stated, "We will establish the transparency center to facilitate active fact-checking activities by major information and communication service providers."
Shin Young-kyu, head of the BMCC's Broadcasting and Communication User Policy Bureau, noted, "We have currently submitted a budget of approximately 2.8 billion won for preliminary expenses. With this budget, we expect to establish and operate the transparency center." He further explained, "The primary responsibility for self-regulation lies with the service providers, and it is essential for domestic providers to make judgments based on their self-regulatory policies. If providers feel burdened by their own policy judgments, they can enter into agreements with fact-checking organizations for support."
Regarding DC Inside, which has been designated as a major information and communication service provider, Shin stated, "We have requested clarification and received materials today. We will assess the content and volume of the submitted materials before making a decision." He added, "We will review it as quickly as possible and will make the results public once they are finalized." Previously, concerns were raised about how to notify authors of posts deleted due to disinformation reports when the authors' contact information is unknown.
In response to the spread of AI, measures to prevent the distribution of illegal filming materials will be expanded from videos to images.
The BMCC is also preparing regulatory improvements for the struggling paid broadcasting industry. Currently, a research group involving experts and service providers is gathering opinions, and policies related to the promotion of paid broadcasting are expected to be announced in the second half of the year.
Follow-up measures regarding the abolition of the Device Distribution Act are also being initiated. The BMCC has prepared implementation plans through a preliminary consultative body and is in discussions at the commission level, with plans to specify related measures soon.
Additionally, the BMCC plans to lay the groundwork for the future development of media in light of the 100th anniversary of broadcasting next year. Chairperson Ko mentioned, "We aim to share the future vision of domestic broadcasting and media and enhance our international standing through the '2027 Asia Media Summit (AMS)' and the 100th anniversary commemorative project."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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