"Creator Industry Growing, but Lacks Legal Protection"…Discussion on Promotion and Support Plans

Unfair Contract Terms Imposed... Disadvantages Occur
Lee Haemin to Hold Legislative Debate on the 18th
"Work Should Be Done in a Fair and Healthy Environment"

The 'Legislative Debate on the Act for the Fostering and Support of Digital Creators,' hosted by Lee Hae-min, a member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee from the Progressive Party for Justice, will be held on the 18th at 2 PM in the National Assembly Library's small conference room.

Recently, the digital creator industry has been growing noticeably. As of 2023, the number of businesses related to the digital creator industry reached 13,514, a 21.5% increase compared to the previous year, and the total sales amounted to 5.3159 trillion KRW, growing by 28.9% year-on-year. The total number of industry workers is 42,378, of which 58.7% are youth aged 30 or younger, recognizing the digital creator industry as an important sector for youth job creation.

However, most domestic digital creator businesses are small-scale, with 83.5% of businesses having fewer than five employees, resulting in a legal blind spot where workers are not covered by the Labor Standards Act. Additionally, many creators are early-career workers who face disadvantageous conditions during contract processes, suffering from lack of proper rights and various disadvantages. [Related article=Violating laws and evading taxes... 'People's tax money' wasted on YouTube]

In response, in August last year, Representative Lee Hae-min proposed the 'Act for the Fostering and Support of Digital Creators,' which includes provisions for establishing a support system for digital creator development such as education and training, commercialization, overseas market entry, finance, and improvement of working environments, as well as legal grounds for fair contracts and a healthy market environment through the preparation of standard contracts and designation of dedicated institutions and support centers.

This legislative debate aims to establish a fostering and support system for digital creators, explore measures for creating a fair and healthy digital creator industry environment including the preparation of standard contracts and designation of dedicated fostering and support institutions. The debate is co-hosted by Democratic Party members Jeong Dong-young, Lee Hoon-gi, Han Min-su, Lee Jeong-heon, and People Power Party member Choi Hyung-doo, with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Radio Promotion Association.

Professor Kim Yong-hee of Kyung Hee University will present on the topic 'Current Status of the Creator Media Industry and the Necessity of Legislation,' followed by lawyer Jang Jun-young from Sejong Law Firm presenting 'Key Contents of the Digital Creator Fostering Act Draft.' The panel discussion will include Yeojoo Yeop, CEO of Allblanc TV, Park Choong-hyuk, CEO of Kidsworks (Hey Jini / Hyejinssu), creator Jo Soo-bin (Subingsu TV), Lee Dong-geun, senior researcher at the Korea Internet Corporations Association, and Lee Hang-jae, director of the Digital Broadcasting Policy Division at the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Representative Lee said, "The digital creator industry has emerged as a core industry supporting South Korea's economy and an important sector for youth job creation," adding, "I will do my best to foster and support digital creators so that creators and industry workers can work in a fair and healthy environment."

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