Korea's media watchdog vows reforms for 'healthy media environment'

The chief of Korea's media watchdog vowed to encourage a "healthy" media landscape through new regulatory reforms during a press conference Monday.

"We plan to foster a healthy media environment through bold improvements of old and unreasonable regulations, such as those related to broadcast advertisements and broadcast programming," Kim Jong-cheol, the chairperson of the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC), said at a press conference marking his first six months in office.

The media watchdog is also planning to push forward with the establishment of a media development committee tasked with improving policies related to the media industry, Kim said.

One of the agenda items to be discussed at the public-private committee will be restructuring the funding systems for broadcasting, media and telecommunications sectors, the KMCC chief added.

Kim mentioned that his organization is keeping a close watch on local broadcaster JTBC after two companies related to the broadcaster filed for bankruptcy late last week.

Regarding the progress on the enforcement of some 68 billion won ($50.4 million) in fines slapped on Alphabet's Google and Apple for their violation of the country's in-app payment laws, Kim refrained from elaborating, only saying the agency will formalize its decision "soon."

Yonhap