[2024 KrIGF] Internet Censorship by the KCSC, Is It Okay as It Is?

Background of the session

The Korea Communication Standard Commission (KCSC) has broad content regulation authority over broadcasting and internet content in South Korea under “the telecommunications system.” It allows the KCSC to take down or block internet information when necessary to foster healthy communication ethics under the “telecommunications review system.” It reaches about 200,000 numbers of cases that have been censored by the KCSC every year. The KCSC has been dominated by the government and ruling party since its establishment, leading to controversies over “political censorship” and “political review.” In this session, the panelists will discuss the issues within the KCSC’s content review system, its inherently biased structure, and explore alternative methods to reform the system.

Panelists

Moderator: Kyungmi Oh (OpenNet Researcher, Civil Society)

Presentation: Jiwon Son (Open Net Lawyer, Civil Society)

• Constitutional review of the telecommunications review system (focusing on the scope of review, and standards)
• Issues with the structure and composition of the council
• Problem cases
• Telecommunications Review System Suggests Improvements to the Act Establishing the Defense Security Agency

Discussion:
Kim, Dong Chan (Policy Chair, Media Reform and Civil Society, Civil Society)
Kim, Yeo Ra (Team Leader, Science, Broadcasting and Telecommunications Team, National Assembly Legislative Research Service, Public Institution)
Sim, Young Seob (Adjunct Professor, Department of Media, Video and Public Relations, Kyung Hee Cyber University, Former member of the Korea Communications Commission, Academia)
Hee, Woo (Progress Network Center, Activist, Civil Society)

* The opinions of the panelists are not those of their organizations or affiliations.

Korean version text