Broadcast Media Communications Commission is starting procedures to designate new identity verification agencies.

The commission held its fourth meeting of 2026 in writing on April 27. It reported its screening plan for designating new identity verification agencies in 2026 and disclosed the screening schedule and procedures on its website.

Under the Information and Communications Network Act, an identity verification agency confirms a person’s identity online using alternative means such as an internet personal identification number (i-PIN), mobile phone, credit card or certificate instead of a resident registration number. A total of 23 entities, including NICE Evaluation Information, NongHyup Card and Woori Bank, are currently designated as identity verification agencies.

The commission will accept documents and conduct screening next month, then carry out on-site inspections of applicants in June. It will then hold a hearing of opinions, including from the person responsible for the identity verification service, and make a final decision on designation in August.

The commission plans to form a screening committee of up to 15 experts in areas such as information protection, law and accounting. Applicants can be designated as identity verification agencies if they receive an “eligible” assessment in 21 key screening items and 2 quantitative evaluation items out of 87 total items, and score at least 800 points out of 1,000 across the remaining 64 items.

Even if an applicant scores below 800 points, it can receive conditional designation if it is assessed as eligible in the key screening items and quantitative evaluation items. If the commission approves conditional designation, the business must meet the conditions within a set period. The commission will issue a certificate after confirming whether the conditions have been met.

The commission also approved the imposition of administrative fines over alleged violations of the Mobile Device Distribution Improvement Act by mobile telecommunications retailers subject to complaints.

There were complaints involving 19 retailers in the first half of 2023. After excluding retailers that had closed, an investigation of 17 retailers found that 13 retailers overpaid subsidies to users beyond the 15 percent limit of the subsidy announced by mobile operators, in 2,863 cases.

The commission decided to impose administrative fines under the law, setting 3.6 million won each for 12 retailers and 18 million won for 1 large retailer, for a total of 61.2 million won.

It also approved a case on corrective measures related to limits on excessive subsidy payments by retailers and prior consent.

An additional investigation into 4 retailers linked to 3 retailers reported through the National Petition Portal and other channels from the second half of 2023 through the first half of last year found that 3 retailers overpaid subsidies to users beyond the 15 percent limit of the subsidy announced by mobile operators, in 315 cases.

In particular, 1 retailer had users sign up for specific plans and add-on services and enter into individual contracts that required them to pay penalty fees. The 4 retailers were found to have violated the prior consent system.

Under the law, the commission decided to impose administrative fines totaling 25.8 million won, including 3.6 million won each on 3 retailers for excessive subsidy payments, 3 million won on 1 retailer for violating rules on individual contracts, and 3 million won each on 4 retailers for violating the prior consent system.

The commission also reviewed and approved whether to accept 126 applications, including SPOTV’s registration of a new channel as a program provider, as well as changes and notifications filed by program providers.