Kakao Expands Media Advisory Body with 'News Transparency Committee' Reorganization

Kakao announced on the 12th that it has expanded and reorganized its media advisory body into the 'News Transparency Committee.' To practice the digital responsibility required of platform companies, it appointed additional experts in related fields to enhance its media advisory functions.

Kakao established the Media Advisory Committee in 2016 to operate a trustworthy media service and protect user rights. The reorganized News Transparency Committee focuses its discussions on news services and aims to provide responsible media services to users by increasing transparency in technology and policies.

The News Transparency Committee has newly added two algorithm experts. The new members, Professor Lim Jong-seop (Sogang University, College of Knowledge Convergence Media) and Professor Han Ji-young (KAIST, Graduate School of Culture Technology), are experts well-versed in both media and technology. They will provide in-depth advice to strengthen algorithm transparency.

With this, the News Transparency Committee has expanded to a total of nine members, including the two new members and Chairperson Professor Park Jae-young (Korea University, Department of Media), as well as Professor Kim Kyung-hee (Hallym University, Media School), Professor Kim Min-jung (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Department of Media Communication), Professor Kim Jang-hyun (Sungkyunkwan University, Department of Human-AI Interaction Convergence), Professor Do Junho (Sookmyung Women's University, Department of Media), Professor Lee Jun-woong (Seoul National University, Department of Communication), and Professor Choi Ji-hyang (Ewha Womans University, Department of Communication and Media).

The News Transparency Committee held its first meeting in early April and began full-scale activities. At the first meeting, they discussed improvement measures to expose users to a wider variety of news articles. The committee plans to transparently disclose meeting minutes and activity details through 'Kakao Policy Industry Research Brunch Story.'

Im Kwang-wook, Head of Kakao Media Business Division, said, "We will actively communicate and cooperate with the 'News Transparency Committee' regarding various policies, services, and major algorithm changes to enhance the transparency of news services. Through this, we plan to fulfill the company's digital responsibility."