Chairman Kim Jong-cheol, the inaugural leader of the newly established Broadcasting Media and Communications Commission, delivered his inaugural address, emphasizing the primary tasks of “restoring the spirit of the Constitution” to reestablish media order and “overhauling outdated regulations.”
During the inauguration ceremony held in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Chairman Kim emphasized that “the roots of media lie in communication, which embraces human dignity and democratic order,” and he pledged to protect the media sovereignty of the people by balancing freedom of expression with public interest.
Comparing the global media landscape, dominated by OTT and platform operators, to a borderless battlefield, he promised to abolish outdated regulations. Kim pointed out that the current legal framework is still stuck in the analog era and pledged to address the “asymmetric regulations” that apply differently to similar services across different media.
He stated his intent to promote industry growth by boldly dismantling outdated regulatory frameworks that do not align with current conditions and aim for a balance between regulation and promotion to help Korea become a global media powerhouse.
Kim also proposed a shift to a post-regulatory system, removing preemptive regulations that obstruct innovation. This includes addressing issues like fair competitive environments regarding network usage fees between domestic internet providers and global OTTs, as well as unfair practices by platform operators.
While showing a firm stance on the negative effects of digital media, he vowed to protect users from confirmation bias (filter bubbles) created by algorithms, deceptive dark patterns, and to apply a “zero tolerance policy” against false information and digital sex crime content.
He underscored that acts destroying personal character and social trust are not within the realm of freedoms protected by the Constitution.
Internally, Kim pledged to lead the organization with “integrated and servant leadership,” maintaining the commission’s independence. He encouraged employees to hold a sense of mission as “citizens in government attire” and promised to be a supportive figure enabling staff to work confidently, quoting poet Kang Eun-kyo in his concluding remarks.