The Korea Communications Commission Establishes Social Norms for the Metaverse Era

KCC Launches Task Force for 'Growth Strategy of Digital Civil Society in the Meta Era'

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The Korea Communications Commission announced on the 26th that it will form a social consultative body called the "Digital Civil Society Growth Strategy in the Meta Era" task force on the 27th to discuss user protection and the realization of a mature civil society within the extended virtual world (Metaverse), and will begin its first discussions.

The task force will be composed of two subcommittees with a total of 30 experts and industry stakeholders participating. Subcommittee 1 (Policy) consists of 14 experts in media, technology, law, and industrial management, as well as research institutions and academic societies. Subcommittee 2 (Industry) includes nine domestic and international platforms, broadcasters, and telecommunications companies, with Professor Ko Hak-soo of Seoul National University serving as the chair of Subcommittee 2.

The task force plans to discuss issues such as avatar personality rights, digital ownership, bridging the digital divide, and strengthening civic capabilities, based on the principle of aiming for a metaverse ecosystem that fosters the mature development and growth of the digital civil society.

Additionally, broad discussions are expected regarding violence and sexual crimes within the metaverse, illegal and harmful information, responses to new types of crimes, and the consistency with existing normative systems.

At the task force inauguration ceremony, Professor Woo Woon-taek of KAIST will present on "Metaverse-related Technology and Industry Trends," and Professor Choi Kyung-jin of Gachon University will present on "Proposals for Legal and Social Issues Related to the Metaverse."

Starting with the inauguration ceremony, the Korea Communications Commission plans to hold conferences, public debates, global seminars, contests, and award ceremonies utilizing the metaverse.

Chairman Han Sang-hyuk of the Korea Communications Commission stated, "This year marks the entry into the metaverse era, a time to examine institutional delays that may arise behind the technology and to find the direction to move forward," adding, "We will seek new change measures for ICT systems and regulatory paradigms in cooperation with various sectors of society, including the task force."