Ministry of Science and ICT Handles 5 Projects Including Local Channel Commerce Broadcasting at New Technology and Service Deliberation Committee
Local Small Businesses Directly Introduce and Sell Specialty Products During 'Korea Together Sale'
[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Starting on the 24th, small business owners across the country will appear on local cable TV during the '2021 Korea Together Sale.' Previously, it was unclear whether comprehensive wired broadcasting operators (SO) would broadcast or sell products on local channels, but this is possible thanks to a two-year regulatory sandbox exemption granted by the government. This pilot operation is limited to certain government events aligned with the spirit of coexistence with small business owners.
The Ministry of Science and ICT held the '19th New Technology and Service Deliberation Committee' meeting in writing and processed a total of five tasks, including the local channel commerce broadcasting service, on the 23rd. The committee reviewed and approved one new task related to local channel commerce broadcasting service and four tasks identical or similar to those handled in previous meetings.
The Korea Cable TV Broadcasting Association applied for a regulatory sandbox exemption for broadcasting introducing and selling small business products using SOs' local channels in line with the Korea Together Sale event. With the committee granting a two-year exemption, SOs will conduct broadcasts only for consumption promotion events recognized by the Minister of Science and ICT, organized by the government or local governments. Additional conditions such as broadcasting no more than three times within three hours per day must also be observed.
The committee also granted a regulatory sandbox exemption for platform-based temporary taxi driver qualification operation applied for by DigiT Mobility. This is similar to previous approvals for KM Solution and VCNCC. However, it is limited to 600 prospective platform-affiliated taxi drivers in Daegu, Pohang, and Gyeongju, with additional conditions addressing safety concerns, including completion of brand taxi training, prior criminal background checks, and obtaining formal taxi driver qualifications within three months.
Temporary approval was also granted for the non-face-to-face mobile telecommunications subscription service applied for by KT M Mobile and Naver. This service allows users to verify their identity using the electronic signature authentication 'Naver Certificate' and activate a budget phone. It is similar to the previously approved consortium of Kookmin Bank and LG Uplus.
Temporary approval was also granted for the mobile electronic notification service applied for by SK Telecom and others. This service notifies and confirms various notices, such as passport expiration reminders, via mobile (text messages) instead of traditional paper mail from administrative, public, and private institutions. It is similar to the previously approved cases for Kakao Pay and NHN Payco. Previously, there was no explicit legal basis allowing the encryption and batch conversion of resident registration numbers held by these institutions into connection information (CI) by identity verification agencies, making the service difficult. However, the committee imposed additional conditions to verify the purpose of resident number processing and prevent misuse.
Temporary approval was also granted for a remote power management system using an automatic recovery leakage circuit breaker applied for by Samhyun C&S. This system applies IoT technology to automatic recovery leakage circuit breakers installed in unmanned communication relay stations and base stations to remotely monitor and inspect power status and recovery. However, the committee required the applicant to conduct a preliminary test with the National Institute of Technology and Standards to determine whether the leakage circuit breaker’s trip factors can be identified.
Minister Lim Hye-sook of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "The newly approved local channel commerce broadcasting service at this committee meeting will revitalize small business owners, farmers, fishermen, and livestock farmers struggling due to COVID-19." She added, "Additional approvals for temporary taxi qualification operation, non-face-to-face mobile subscription service, and mobile electronic notification tasks, which have received market response, are expected to enhance public convenience."
Meanwhile, since the implementation of the ICT regulatory sandbox system in January 2019, the Ministry of Science and ICT has approved a total of 111 tasks, including 45 temporary approvals and 66 regulatory sandbox exemptions.
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