The Broadcasting Media Communications Commission on Monday reported major policy results in broadcasting, media and telecommunications at a cabinet meeting, marking the first anniversary of the launch of the People’s Sovereignty government.

The commission said it has pursued policies under a “faster because we are late” approach, aiming to resolve issues accumulated over two years and to realise media sovereignty and a basic society.

◆Completed 14 plenary meetings, relicensing for 152 broadcasters

The commission began full-scale operations after the appointment of commissioners in April met the quorum for decision-making. Since the first plenary meeting on April 10, it has held 14 plenary meetings and handled 86 agenda items, including 12 items involving the enactment and revision of laws and regulations and 10 sanctions.

It also completed relicensing for 152 broadcasters, including 16 terrestrial broadcasters and two pay-TV operators, after long delays. It prepared a basis under a revision to the Broadcasting Act to deem licences and approvals valid until a decision is made if relicensing or renewal is delayed for reasons not attributable to the broadcaster.

It introduced a requirement for sign-language broadcasting for KBS disaster broadcasts and began a review procedure for approving a change of YTN’s largest shareholder, alongside measures to strengthen broadcasters’ public responsibility.

In telecommunications, it banned discriminatory handset subsidies by region of residence and age through a revision to the Enforcement Decree of the Telecommunications Business Act. It imposed an administrative fine over KT’s false notice on preorders for the Galaxy S25.

◆Revised enforcement rules for the “three broadcasting laws”, secured joint World Cup broadcasts

The commission revised enforcement decrees and rules needed to implement the so-called “three broadcasting laws” (the Broadcasting Act, the Act on the Foundation for Broadcast Culture and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act) and selected groups eligible to recommend directors for public broadcasters.

To ensure universal viewing rights, it supported negotiations over broadcast rights for the North and Central America World Cup set to begin in June this year, leading to joint broadcasts between terrestrial and pay-TV operators. It is also working on legal and institutional revisions, including recommendations on the resale of broadcast rights for events of public interest and the formation of a consultative body.

A revision to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection established a basis to mandate large platform operators to accept reports and to introduce punitive damages of up to five times to respond to false and manipulated information. For illegal spam, it also established a basis to introduce administrative fines and to confiscate criminal proceeds.

◆Announced home-shopping co-prosperity plan, 추진 to set up a promotion agency

In May, the commission announced a “home-shopping co-prosperity and vitality plan” that includes improving the home-shopping system and creating a home-shopping channel exclusively for small and medium-sized enterprises. It is also pursuing the integration of promotional functions in broadcasting and media through the establishment of the Korea Broadcasting Media Communications Promotion Agency.

Kim Jong-cheol (김종철), chair of the commission, said it has focused policy capacity on restoring the public nature of broadcasting and establishing digital media order. He said it will create policy results that the public can feel and build an environment where public interest and industrial competitiveness are in balance.