Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom: "Broadcasting and Telecommunications Industry, Please Deliver K-pop and Food Well to the World"

Remarks at the '2022 New Year's Gathering of Broadcasting and Telecommunications Professionals'

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum emphasized the role of OTT as a gateway connecting the global market and K-content, stating, "We will establish legal systems for the development of the broadcasting and telecommunications industry," at the '2022 New Year's Meeting of Broadcasting and Telecommunications Professionals' held on the 21st at the 63 Convention Center in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Cha Min-young

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] "We hope that the broadcasting and telecommunications industry, including online video services (OTT), will effectively deliver our brands such as K-pop and K-food to people around the globe."

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum attended the '2022 Broadcasting and Telecommunications New Year Meeting' held at the 63 Convention Center in Yeouido, Seoul on the morning of the 21st, and said, "The government will establish systematic and efficient laws and systems to revitalize the broadcasting and telecommunications industry and build a foundation for fair competition."

The New Year meeting, co-hosted by 22 broadcasting and telecommunications-related associations and organizations including the Korea Communications Commission, Korea Information and Communications Promotion Association, and Korea Broadcasting Association, was held under the slogan "Broadcasting and telecommunications growing together, a media world where everyone is happy, led by broadcasting and telecommunications professionals." This year's event was the first face-to-face meeting since Han Sang-hyuk took office as chairman of the Korea Communications Commission.

The event was attended by 40 key figures in broadcasting and telecommunications, including Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Lee Won-wook, chairman of the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee, Kim Hyun, vice chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, standing commissioners Ahn Hyung-hwan, Kim Chang-ryong, Kim Hyo-jae, and Cho Kyung-sik, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Prime Minister Kim also urged efforts to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital era. He emphasized that media usage rights without discrimination must be guaranteed, such as the distribution of customized TVs for the visually impaired. He said, "I hope broadcasting and telecommunications professionals will play their roles so that everyone can safely and conveniently enjoy the benefits of broadcasting and telecommunications media," calling for the creation of an inclusive broadcasting and telecommunications environment.

Kim Ji-yeon, CEO of Siren Pictures, the production company of "Squid Game," is speaking through a video.

Chairman Han Sang-hyuk, in his New Year’s greeting, said, "We will prepare a forum to explore a future-oriented integrated regulatory system and directions for media development," and emphasized, "We will work harder to prepare concrete policies that effectively protect users and resolve public inconveniences." Furthermore, he asked for the cooperation of broadcasting and telecommunications professionals to achieve "broadcasting and telecommunications growing together, a media world where everyone is happy."

Yu Sang-young, president of the Korea Information and Communications Promotion Association, also said, "2022 is a period of paradigm shift, and how we view and respond to the rapidly changing world will determine our future," adding, "If last year was a year when global OTTs fiercely competed in Korea, this year must be the first year of K-content’s advance spreading worldwide with momentum."

Kim Ji-yeon, CEO of Siren Pictures, the production company of Netflix’s 'Squid Game,' said via video, "Squid Game was an opportunity to realize that the status of Korean local content is changing," and added, "It seems that content producers are now concerned with making cultural barriers something to be enjoyed. I hope this year becomes a year when the media industry shows mutual interest and competes while moving forward."

The New Year meeting was attended by 22 co-hosting organizations as well as terrestrial broadcasters such as Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), Educational Broadcasting System (EBS), Christian Broadcasting System (CBS), comprehensive and news channels such as JTBC, MBN, YTN, and telecommunications operators including SK Telecom and LG Uplus.