The Korea Communications Commission to Curb Reckless 'Sending Star Balloons' to Underage BJs

The Korea Communications Commission and Rep. Han Junho of the Democratic Party
Amend the Telecommunications Business Act... Strengthening Regulations

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Last year, an 11-year-old elementary school student, A, sent approximately 130 million KRW worth of paid items called 'Byeolpoongseon' (star balloons) online to a personal internet broadcasting host (BJ) on the platform 'Hakuna Live' over 10 days without parental consent. This later sparked public outrage when the victim's parents revealed the money was intended for a deposit on a rental property. Similar incidents are common on other internet personal broadcasting platforms like AfreecaTV, which are widely used by teenagers.

Going forward, legal regulations will be strengthened to prevent minors from sending large amounts of 'Byeolpoongseon' (paid items) to internet personal broadcasting platform BJs.

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) announced on the 17th that it will push for amendments to the 'Telecommunications Business Act' in cooperation with Democratic Party lawmaker Han Junho to effectively prevent user damages on internet personal broadcasting platforms. Although the KCC has recommended voluntary compliance with guidelines, it has faced criticism for insufficient effectiveness.

To enhance the protection of internet personal broadcasting platform users' rights, the system will be improved to impose obligations on platform operators, including ▲setting payment limits ▲strengthening minor protection ▲operating user protection channels ▲preventing illegal transactions such as so-called 'Byeolpoongseon Kkang' (illegal cash conversion of star balloons).

To this end, a new category of 'special value-added telecommunications business' subject to reporting obligations will be established, newly including internet personal broadcasting currently classified as value-added telecommunications businesses under existing law. Operators will be required to set payment limits for paid items and prevent abnormal transactions aimed at circumventing these limits.

In particular, protection measures for minors will be introduced, such as setting monthly payment limits for minors and requiring prior consent from legal guardians when minors make payments. In the future, internet personal broadcasting operators meeting certain user number and revenue thresholds will also be obligated to establish user protection channels to resolve user complaints.

Additionally, the KCC will regulate to allow inspection of the operation and management of internet personal broadcasting platforms and user protection channels, as well as request submission of related data to foster a healthy transaction environment. The KCC plans to actively support the National Assembly's legislative discussions.

KCC Chairman Sanghyuk Han stated, "With the acceleration of a contactless society due to COVID-19 and the increased use of one-person media such as internet personal broadcasting platforms, policies that strengthen the responsibility of these platforms and prevent user damages have become more necessary. We will create a healthy one-person media usage environment through continuous institutional improvements."

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