The Korea Communications and Media Commission will begin reviewing a change approval request related to SK Broadband's corporate split.

KCCM said its plenary meeting on Thursday approved a basic plan to review SK Broadband's change approval for its internet protocol television business and comprehensive cable TV operator business.

The review follows a change approval request SK Broadband filed to set up a new company, SK Horizon, by separating its data centre and submarine cable business.

SK Telecom plans to split SK Broadband, its wholly owned unit, into a surviving company in charge of its existing wired telecommunications and media business and a new company, SK Horizon, in charge of its AI data centre and submarine cable business, through a split-off.

Under the structure, SKT will hold 51 percent of the new company's shares, while financial investors KKR and an IMM consortium will hold 29 percent and 20 percent, respectively. SKT is also pursuing external investment of about 3.08 trillion won alongside the split.

KCCM plans to form a review panel of experts and conduct a review under Article 11 of the Internet Multimedia Broadcast Services Act and Article 15 of the Broadcasting Act. It will decide whether to grant final change approval based on the results.

KCCM on Thursday also received a plan to pursue administrative sanctions against YTN and Yonhap News TV for failing to comply with corrective orders related to the formation of president recommendation committees.

The two companies were ordered to correct violations under Article 20, Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Broadcasting Act by Oct. 10, but did not comply.

KCCM decided to pursue a plan that combines corrective orders for the two companies with a three-month reduction in the validity period of their re-approvals. As it already shortened their re-approval validity periods by three months in August, if the latest measures are finalised, each will be cut by an additional three months.

KCCM plans to deliberate and vote on the final measures after advance notice of the administrative sanctions and submission of the operators' opinions.

It also approved imposing a 30 million won penalty in lieu of a business suspension for programme provider IHQ for violating Article 15, Paragraph 1 of the Broadcasting Act.