[2022 National Audit] No Budget for OTT Self-Rating Classification

Situations Where Monitoring Harmful Content Is Not Possible

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The budget for the self-rating classification project of online video service (OTT) video content, set to be implemented in March next year, has been found to be nonexistent.

According to the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee member Lim Jong-seong (Democratic Party), who disclosed the audit data on the 13th, the Korea Media Rating Board has not secured the related budget for next year. Monitoring of harmful content such as youth-restricted materials is currently impossible.

The domestic video content industry is subject to a "pre-rating system." With the passage of the amendment to the "Act on the Promotion of Movies and Video," OTT providers like Netflix and TVING will be able to autonomously classify and distribute content ratings. However, restricted viewing ratings will be excluded.

According to the status of major OTT content rating classifications, from 2017 to August this year, a total of 11,276 pieces of content were distributed. Among these, 26.4% (2,979 pieces) received youth-restricted ratings due to reasons such as sexual content and violence.

Rep. Lim stated, "As the risk of harmful content exposure to youth increases with the self-rating service, thorough post-management is necessary," adding, "I will ensure that sufficient budget is secured during the National Assembly's review process."