[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] Park Yoon-kyu, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, visited Jeju Island to hold a series of meetings with the cable broadcasting industry and local startups in Jeju, listening to current issues and difficulties.
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that on the 19th, Vice Minister Park Yoon-kyu visited the Jeju Creative Economy Innovation Center to encourage resident startups and held a meeting to hear on-site opinions and difficulties related to digital startups and venture activation.
At the meeting, Vice Minister Park said, "In the case of the Jeju region, there is a great opportunity for specialized startups that combine digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and 5G in various fields where Jeju has strengths, including culture, tourism, agriculture, and marine sectors." He added, "The Ministry of Science and ICT operates systematic support policies for each stage of company growth, from startup to growth to global expansion, aiming to nurture world-class startups and ventures. We will actively support the further development of the digital startup and venture ecosystem in the Jeju region."
Vice Minister Park then reviewed the performance comparison and visualization demonstration between the existing WiFi and WiFi 6E of KCTV Jeju Broadcasting, as well as the preparation status for IP-based services, and held a meeting with cable TV representatives at Maison Glad Hotel in Jeju City. Jeju Broadcasting has been conducting a WiFi 6E demonstration project utilizing the 6 GHz band supplied as an unlicensed frequency since May 2021 as an ICT convergence service.
Additionally, as part of proactive administration, the Ministry of Science and ICT has obtained permission for small and medium cable TV Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) businesses as the first phase of introducing paid broadcasting technology neutrality policies, and has been preparing to provide IP-based services most rapidly, conducting pilot services since June this year.
At the request of the cable TV industry, Vice Minister Park held a meeting with representatives of the cable TV industry to listen to current issues and difficulties in the paid broadcasting sector. The cable industry requested expanded autonomy in channel operation, such as allowing commentary, analysis, and commerce broadcasting regular programming on local channels, support for small and medium cable TV companies, and shared opinions on strengthening ICT public-private cooperation and win-win collaboration.
Vice Minister Park stated, "While the paid broadcasting market is stagnant, we are well aware of the various difficulties faced by the cable TV industry due to the expansion of global online video service (OTT) companies in the domestic market. Cable TV has led growth as the eldest sibling of paid broadcasting and has played an important role in local jobs, revitalizing the local economy, and providing local information. I believe that these public roles of cable TV must continue."
He also said, "We will strive to institutionalize commerce broadcasting on local channels and provide financial support to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium cable TV companies. We will also work to strengthen win-win cooperation in paid broadcasting through continuous regulatory innovation and fundamental improvements in broadcasting legislation."
After the cable TV representatives' meeting, Vice Minister Park checked the work status of the Space Radio Center, which is responsible for space radio disaster tasks in preparation for the solar activity maximum in 2024, and encouraged the staff.
Vice Minister Park said, "With the digital transformation, the 4th industrial revolution, and the space age, the use of radio waves is expanding into various industries and social sectors. The possibility of damage to radio wave-based industries such as communication, GPS, drones, navigation, satellites, and power is increasing due to space radio disasters." He added, "As the solar activity maximum (2024?2026) approaches, the importance of space radio disaster forecasting and warning tasks is expected to increase. Therefore, thorough preparation for unexpected space radio disasters is necessary."
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