Government Abolishes Paid Broadcasting Market Share Regulation... Establishes 'Digital Capability Center'

The 12th Information and Communication Strategy Committee Meeting Held... Prime Minister Jeong "Promoting Large-Scale Digital Transformation"

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun is presiding over the 12th Information and Communication Strategy Committee held on the afternoon of the 22nd at the Government Seoul Office large conference room.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] The government is easing regulations on media platforms, including abolishing market share regulations for paid broadcasting, introducing a voluntary rating system for online videos, and simplifying merger and acquisition (M&A) procedures in the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors. Additionally, it plans to establish 'Digital Competency Centers' (tentative name) ? digital education spaces accessible to all citizens ? in nearby community centers, libraries, and other local facilities to provide comprehensive digital competency education necessary for daily life. Furthermore, to expand the use of 3D printing in industrial sites, the government will promote technology demonstrations in promising fields such as medical devices and construction, and discover successful commercialization models by applying 3D printing technology across all production processes in industrial complexes.

On the 22nd, the government held the 12th Information and Communications Strategy Committee meeting at the Government Seoul Office, chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, where it deliberated and approved five agenda items: ▲ Digital Media Ecosystem Development Plan ▲ Digital Inclusion Promotion Plan ▲ 2nd Basic Plan for 3D Printing Industry Promotion ▲ 2nd Information Security Industry Promotion Plan ▲ Immersive Content Talent Development Promotion Plan.

Prime Minister Chung emphasized, "Digital Korea is now on the verge of another leap forward," adding, "The government has laid the foundation for the 4th Industrial Revolution through data, 5G, and artificial intelligence, and aims to drive a massive digital transformation of our economy and society through the Korean New Deal."

First, the government established a Digital Media Ecosystem Development Plan to support the innovative growth of creative young people and media companies, thereby strengthening the global competitiveness of the domestic digital media industry. This plan was jointly prepared by relevant ministries through the Digital Media Industry Task Force, one of the three major government-wide task forces launched in December last year for digital government innovation.

The government will boldly ease regulations on media platforms under the principle of minimal regulation to allow platforms to innovate in the changing media market. This includes abolishing market share regulations for paid broadcasting, introducing a voluntary rating system for online videos, and simplifying M&A procedures in the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors. Additionally, it will strategically foster the content industry by creating a one-person media cluster and expanding shared content creation spaces, establishing a 1 trillion KRW cultural content fund to support content production and overseas expansion, providing tax credits for online video production costs, and supporting the production of large-scale and planned content to lead a new wave of Hallyu (Korean Wave) in the global market. The government will also promote a fair content production and distribution environment by expanding the use of standard contracts.

The government will also establish Digital Competency Centers (operating 1,000 locations annually on a rotating basis) in nearby community centers, libraries, and other local facilities to provide comprehensive digital competency education necessary for daily life. To create an inclusive digital usage environment, it plans to install 41,000 new public Wi-Fi spots, provide high-speed internet to about 1,300 rural fishing and farming villages, and support smart devices and communication fees for vulnerable groups. Furthermore, it will promote inclusive use of digital technology by supplying sensors that detect breathing, pulse, and activity to the homes and group living facilities of the elderly and disabled, thereby providing non-face-to-face digital care services.

Moreover, to expand the use of 3D printing in industrial sites, the government plans to promote technology demonstrations in promising fields such as medical devices and construction, and discover successful commercialization models by applying 3D printing technology across all production processes in industrial complexes. To create new information security markets arising from digital transformation and the spread of non-face-to-face services, it will conduct pilot projects for non-face-to-face service security equipped with differentiated security functions using new technologies such as cloud, blockchain, and biometrics.

Additionally, aiming to train about 7,200 specialized and convergent talents in immersive content (XR) by 2023, the government will provide customized education to graduate students, workers, and undergraduates. In particular, to cultivate high-level talents at the master's and doctoral levels, it plans to establish an XR School for immersive content and an XR LAB linked with promising regional industries.

A government official stated, "To ensure the smooth implementation of the major information and communications policies discussed today, we will continue to strengthen cooperation and communication between the private sector and relevant ministries in the future."

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