President Lee Jae-myung (이재명) said he will rationally reform regulations that do not fit the times in order to enhance the competitiveness of the broadcasting industry.

In a congratulatory address read out by Seong Gi-hong at the 63rd Broadcasting Day ceremony held at Seoul Dragon City on Wednesday, Lee said broadcasters’ creative planning and constant challenges have been the true driving force behind leading K-content to the centre of the world.

Lee said he will institutionally support broadcasting autonomy and independence and realise a “basic media society” that guarantees all citizens’ rights to participation, access and choice.

He added that various regulations that do not fit the times will also be rationally improved to boost the competitiveness of the broadcasting industry.

Ahn Hyung-joon (안형준), head of the Korea Broadcasters Association, urged in a commemorative speech that the broadcasting industry should be viewed as a national future strategic industry rather than a target of regulation.

Ahn said the public trust and production capabilities that South Korean broadcasting has built up over a long period have become the roots of K-content that draws global attention. But he said the virtuous cycle in which content investment is returned as appropriate profit and reinvested into content has collapsed in the current broadcasting market.

He said if structural unfairness is repeated, in which broadcasters must shoulder losses even after making good content, there is no choice but for trustworthy information, quality content and the public’s right to watch to be shaken. He called for domestic broadcasters to be recognised as a strategic industry that will lead the nation’s future through K-content, rather than being treated as a strongly regulated target, so they can respond flexibly.

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik (조정식) also said in a video message that the “power of a high culture” long hoped for by Baekbeom Kim Gu has become reality rather than an ideal. He said the National Assembly will also spare no necessary support so South Korean broadcasting can create content that leads the world.

Broadcasting Day was established to commemorate South Korea’s recovery of broadcasting sovereignty after securing the independent call sign “HL” from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on Sept. 3, 1947.