[Broadcasting Commission Report] "Private Fact-Check Center to Counter 'Fake News' to Be Established Within This Year"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] A private-led 'Fact Check Center' to prevent the spread of false and manipulated information (fake news) is expected to be established as early as this year.

Han Sang-hyuk, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, stated in the 2020 KCC work report released on the 16th regarding the Fact Check Center, "The government will support the infrastructure so that a private sector center can be established and fulfill its role," adding, "We will strive to establish the center within this year through a public contest project."

This is the first time an approximate launch timeline has been announced since Chairman Han mentioned the establishment plan for a center to activate private sector fact-checking functions in November last year.

He said, "Overseas, various fact-check centers receive certification from the so-called IFCN (International Fact-Checking Network), and the process of publishing their results is very active," adding, "In Korea, fact-checking is still at a very rudimentary level and lacks infrastructure." However, he made it clear that while the government will support the establishment of the center, it will not intervene or interfere.

The KCC also plans to strengthen cooperation with related ministries by promptly reviewing and blocking digital sex crime videos within 24 hours to respond to illegal and harmful information, and by operating a joint inter-ministerial database (DB) capable of identifying related videos. To respond to the advancement of the intelligent information society, the 'Intelligent Information Society Policy Center,' established earlier this month, will discuss practical measures to protect users of the intelligent information society through a public-private consultative body and support related policies.