[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The government, in collaboration with related ministries, has prepared an 'Improvement Plan for the Protection of Rights and Interests of Minor Entertainers.' This measure was proposed in response to concerns that minor entertainers, who start their activities earlier than in other fields, may be exposed to unhealthy environments such as demands for money under the pretext of debut or broadcasting appearances.
On the 28th, the government announced that it reported the improvement plan for the protection of rights and interests of minor entertainers, prepared through consultations with related ministries including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Communications Commission under the coordination of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, as well as private associations and organizations, to the 119th Government Performance Evaluation Committee.
First, the Popular Culture and Arts Information System (ent.kocca.kr), which currently only discloses formal information such as the company name and registration number of registered agencies, will add information that aspiring entertainers can practically refer to. Additionally, the government plans to conduct a comprehensive annual review of registered agencies and include entertainment academies, which have been difficult to survey, in the biennial Popular Culture and Arts Industry Survey to eliminate blind spots in the investigation.
Measures to ensure compliance with employment restrictions for sex offenders and the fulfillment of mandatory sex education, including inspections and imposition of fines, will be strengthened, and plans to crack down on unregistered agencies through the introduction of special judicial police will also be pursued.
The plan also includes establishing transparent and fair audition practices and increasing the use of standard contracts to prevent unfair contract agreements. Audition information of member companies will be disclosed through websites of related associations and organizations, and a private-sector 'Audition Guideline' will be prepared. A standard broadcasting appearance contract for minors will be developed, and the standard contract for popular culture and arts entertainers will be reviewed and supplemented every three years to reflect current realities.
To prevent violations of rest and study rights such as long working hours and nighttime filming for minor entertainers, specific guidelines will be established. To protect them from illegal acts such as sexual harassment and sexual assault, reports of sexual crimes involving minor entertainers will be given priority in processing.
Furthermore, psychological and emotional support will be expanded for minor entertainers and trainees to address uncertainties about the future, stress from early social activities, and concerns about giving up their debut. To this end, the psychological and career counseling programs operated by the 'Popular Culture and Arts Support Center' will be expanded from 100 to 350 participants, with improvements in professionalism and effectiveness.
The government stated, "We plan to conduct semi-annual checks on the detailed implementation status by each ministry to ensure that the improvement plan for the protection of rights and interests of minor entertainers is carried out without any setbacks."
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