New License for Community Radio Broadcasting Granted After 12 Years... Applications Open Today

Document Submission Deadline by the 30th of Next Month
Online Briefing on the 18th of This Month... June Review Scheduled
Broadcasting Commission and Ministry of Science and ICT Strengthen Support Collaboration System

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The Korea Communications Commission is recruiting community radio broadcasters for the first time in 12 years.

The Korea Communications Commission announced on the 8th that it will accept applications for new community radio broadcasting licenses until 6 p.m. on the 30th of next month.

Applicants must be non-profit corporations. Those wishing to operate the business should submit a broadcasting station license application, information about the applying corporation, a business plan, and supporting documents to the KCC. An online business briefing session will be held on the 18th, and evaluations are scheduled for June.

Community radio broadcasting is a low-power FM radio broadcast of 10W or less, operated for small local areas such as cities, counties, and districts. Since its first pilot broadcast in 2005, seven broadcasters nationwide are currently operating. Yeongju, licensed in 2009, was the last to receive a new license, making this the first new license in 12 years.

Community radio is operated based on voluntary participation of residents and serves as a "public forum" for the local community. During the COVID-19 situation, it contributed to disaster recovery by delivering timely local information and stories of vulnerable groups within the community, such as migrant workers and people with disabilities.

The KCC and the Ministry of Science and ICT are strengthening their collaborative system to promote regional media by issuing new community radio licenses for the first time in 12 years. The KCC will form an evaluation committee including external experts to enhance transparency in the review process, while the Ministry of Science and ICT will conduct technical evaluations such as broadcast frequency interference analysis to support new broadcasters in establishing broadcasting facilities and using radio frequencies.

Both ministries stated, "This new community radio licensing will be a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the public and universal value of broadcasting frequencies in our society."