Broadcast Media Telecommunications Commission has drafted a budget and fund management plan for next year totalling 297.7 billion won, up 13.2 percent from this year. It is the first budget proposal since the commission’s launch in October last year. The plan expands investment in the AI transition (AX) for broadcasting and media, responses to online false and manipulated information, and efforts to strengthen the public’s access to media.

The commission said on Monday it has drawn up a 2027 budget and fund management plan of 297.7 billion won, an increase of 34.6 billion won, or 13.2 percent, from a year earlier.

It said next year’s budget is focused on three areas: support for sustainable development and innovation in the broadcasting and media ecosystem; building a safe and trustworthy digital environment; and strengthening the public’s media sovereignty.

It will first expand support for the broadcasting and media industry’s AX. It newly set aside 10 billion won for a pilot project to process broadcasters’ video holdings into AI training data.

It will also provide vouchers for AI-based production and editing solutions to small and marginal broadcasters. It will newly 추진 support projects for producing short-form broadcast content using AI technology and for youth interns who have received AI technology training.

It increased research and development budget to secure core AI-based broadcast production and editing technologies. It also newly 추진 a project to build an integrated service platform for domestic radio broadcasters and a programme to support standardising pay-TV viewing data.

It also allocated budget for an information and communications service transparency centre to respond to online false and manipulated information. Under a revised Information and Communications Network Act that took effect in July, the centre will support fact-checking organisations and conduct fact-checking-related research and education.

It expanded budget to improve the public’s access to media and ability to use it. The budget for media competency education at the Korea Communications Agency Foundation was set at 2.4 billion won, about double from a year earlier, and it will invest 2.5 billion won each to build viewer media centres in North Gyeongsang and North Jeolla provinces.

To secure media access rights for people with disabilities, it increased budget for distributing TV receivers for the hearing impaired and for supporting production of disability broadcasting. It also increased funding to develop an AI-based automated screen description system for the visually impaired.

It increased programme production support budget for local and smaller broadcasters and for the Korea Educational Broadcasting System (EBS). Its contribution to the Digital Content Korea Fund, jointly 추진 with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was set at 5 billion won, a 10-fold increase from a year earlier.

However, a nationwide internet ethics education programme was cut during the government’s budget review process. A project to support AI vouchers for underprivileged groups was not included. The commission plans to consult fiscal authorities and others to secure additional related funding during the National Assembly’s budget deliberations.

Commission Chair Kim Jong-cheol (김종철) said the 2027 budget would further strengthen the public’s media sovereignty and build industrial competitiveness suited to the changing media environment. He said it would help realise a “basic media society” where everyone can enjoy the benefits of media and use safe and trustworthy media.