Amid Flood of Digital Sex Crimes... Broadcasting Review Committee 5th Term Delayed for Three Months

3-Month Vacancy in 5th Committee
Approximately 6,800 Cases of Self-Regulation Measures
53% Are Digital Sexual Crimes
90,000 Cases Pending Review
Fundamental Solution Is Committee Formation

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), which protects users from malicious internet crimes such as digital sex crimes, has been in a regulatory vacuum for over three months due to the delayed launch of its 5th term committee. In particular, illegal filming materials such as 'molrae camera' (hidden cameras), which require prompt handling, account for 53% of the self-regulation targets, representing a significant portion of overall crimes. There are also about 90,000 cases requiring in-depth discussion, raising concerns about damage caused by the delayed launch of the 5th term committee.

The KCSC announced on the 7th that during the committee's vacancy period this year (January 30 to May 6), it deleted and blocked 6,806 cases of clearly illegal information through self-regulation to protect users. This accounts for 46% of the 14,755 cases of self-regulation by operators last year.

Looking at the main violation types, ▲ digital sex crime information requiring rapid deletion such as illegal filming materials was the highest at 3,635 cases. ▲ Personal information infringement information involving the sale of personal information databases or trading of others' IDs collected through hacking totaled 932 cases. ▲ Document forgery-related information involving falsification or mediation of ID cards, certificates, transcripts, etc. was 669 cases. ▲ Sexual acts explicitly depicted in videos, and prostitution and obscene information that induce or mediate prostitution were 604 cases. ▲ Information related to drug trafficking such as methamphetamine and marijuana using various slang terms was 549 cases.

The KCSC maintains cooperative systems with major domestic and international operators to support operators' self-regulation efforts beyond public regulation. Operators can take action according to relevant laws or their own terms and conditions when requested by the KCSC to self-regulate clearly illegal information.

The problem is that despite self-regulation efforts, about 90,000 cases of clearly illegal information and information requiring in-depth review are currently backlogged. A fundamental solution requires the urgent formation of the 5th term committee.

Currently, the KCSC Secretariat is collecting evidence, reviewing violated laws, and conducting reviews through the Special Advisory Committee on Communications for cases requested for review by complaints and related organizations. Once the 5th term committee is launched, it plans to promptly submit agenda items.

The KCSC, a private independent organization, is composed of an administrative support organization centered on nine commissioners serving three-year terms. The President, the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee of the National Assembly each recommend three members. Although the 4th term ended earlier this year, necessitating the formation of the 5th term committee, progress has been hindered by conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties. The opposition party, People Power Party, refused to recommend commissioners unless the Blue House's recommended candidates were disclosed. The ruling party countered that this was an "unprecedented matter," further delaying the formation of the 5th term committee.

In response, Min Kyung-jung, Secretary General of the KCSC, sent letters on February 15, just before the Lunar New Year holiday, to four individuals: Park Kyung-seok, Speaker of the National Assembly; Lee Won-ok, Chair of the Science and Technology Committee; and opposition and ruling party secretaries Cho Seung-rae and Park Sung-jong. In March, he publicly urged the prompt formation of the 5th term committee amid controversy over its delayed launch, but disagreements between the ruling and opposition parties have continued to delay the committee's formation.

Secretary General Min Kyung-jung said, "Recently, as non-face-to-face situations continue due to infectious diseases in our society, various internet harms such as internet gambling, illegal sale of food and pharmaceuticals, and false manipulated information are increasing." He added, "Considering this, efforts to strengthen operators' self-monitoring and self-regulation, along with users' voluntary efforts as members of the internet ecosystem, are necessary." He also appealed for the urgent formation of the 5th term committee to ensure safe internet use for the public.

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