Ministry of Science and ICT Supports Online Worship and Other Non-Face-to-Face Religious Activities

Distribution of Internet Video Platform Usage Manual, Support for Data and Communication Environment, etc.

[Asia Economy Reporter Joselgina] As concerns over COVID-19 cluster infections through religious activities such as churches have recently spread, the government has stepped up to support online religious activities. This includes support for data and communication environments, as well as temporarily allowing the operation of low-power radio stations for drive-in religious activities.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and some small and medium religious organizations have expressed technical difficulties with non-face-to-face religious gatherings, so from the 8th until the end of May, they announced on the 7th that they will provide such support together with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

First, the Ministry of Science and ICT will guide technical methods for video shooting and streaming based on smartphones for small and medium religious organizations with fewer than 200 members that have difficulty with online religious activities, and support the necessary data and communication environments. They will produce and distribute manuals to facilitate the use of internet live video platforms such as KakaoTV and Naver Band Live, and operate a dedicated call center. On-site consultations will also be conducted if necessary.

Additionally, with the cooperation of telecommunications companies, sufficient data necessary for video transmission will be provided for two months until the end of May for one mobile communication line per religious organization used for video streaming to ensure smooth online religious activities. Videos will be transmitted via LTE or Wi-Fi based on smartphones, and if 5G in-building network construction is requested, it will be built and supported mainly in locations agreed upon with building owners.

Small and medium religious organizations experiencing difficulties with online worship, mass, and other religious activities can download manuals from the Korea Telecommunications Operators Association (KTOA) website. Detailed guidance is also available by calling 1433-1900 without an area code.

Inter-ministerial cooperation will also proceed to support drive-in religious activities that can satisfy both social distancing and on-site religious activity demands. Drive-in religious activities refer to broadcasting live religious services within limited spaces such as parking lots using low-power radio stations, where attendees participate in religious activities by listening inside their cars.

While low-power radio stations have been permitted in a limited manner for on-site guidance at events such as fairs and international film festivals, as part of proactive administration to support non-face-to-face religious activities amid the prolonged COVID-19 situation, the scope has been temporarily extended to include drive-in religious activities.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to promote the policy through religious organizations and local governments to enhance policy efficiency and prevent blind spots. The Ministry of Science and ICT will derive appropriate output and frequencies that can be used without interference in specific areas and establish and implement licensing standards suitable for drive-in religious activities to ensure efficient operation of radio stations within the spaces where these activities take place.

The Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "Through collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, we will actively support non-face-to-face religious activities to contribute to social distancing, and furthermore, we will strive to establish non-face-to-face services such as video conferencing and remote education in our society as a result of COVID-19."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.