Broadcasting Commission's 2024 Budget Proposal of 236.4 Billion KRW Focuses on Inclusive Media Benefits

Increase of over 4.4 billion KRW in media benefits without discrimination
Budget also increased for blocking digital sex crimes

The Korea Communications Commission announced on the 29th that it will allocate a total budget of 236.4 billion KRW for next year and submit it to the National Assembly. To lay the foundation for the "Leap to a Global Media Powerhouse," the budget includes 17.2 billion KRW for the new and old media co-growth future strategy, 82.6 billion KRW for providing equal media benefits and assigning social responsibilities to internet journalism, and 22.6 billion KRW for protecting user rights in harmony with the autonomy of the digital new industry.

New and Old Media Co-Growth Future Strategy: 17.2 billion KRW

The KCC increased the budget by 1.041 billion KRW to establish a foundation for revitalizing the location information industry and to strengthen the emergency rescue support system using location information, totaling 6.815 billion KRW. Additionally, 9.754 billion KRW was allocated for support projects such as broadcasting advertisement production and consulting for small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners, as well as program production and distribution to promote balanced development of local broadcasting and enhance broadcasting content competitiveness. The budget also includes 600 million KRW to actively support the innovative growth of new types of media services, such as overseas online video service (OTT) market research and international forums.

Providing Equal Media Benefits and Assigning Social Responsibilities to Internet Journalism: 82.6 billion KRW

The KCC increased the budget by 4.458 billion KRW for expanding customized TV distribution for the visually and hearing impaired and supporting the production of broadcasting for people with disabilities, totaling 20.176 billion KRW. Furthermore, 4.7 billion KRW was allocated to continue the free EBS middle school premium lectures following 2023. To enhance the reliability and effectiveness of fact-checking projects and provide tailored education for different groups (youth, adults, teachers, etc.), the budget was increased by 417 million KRW compared to the previous year, totaling 1.027 billion KRW. Additionally, to minimize disaster damage through strengthening disaster broadcasting, the budget was increased by 393 million KRW to ensure smooth reception of disaster broadcasts and civil defense alerts in broadcast shadow areas such as tunnels and underground spaces.

Protecting User Rights in Harmony with the Autonomy of the Digital New Industry: 22.6 billion KRW

To strengthen user protection from the distribution of illegal obscene information and illegal filming materials related to digital sex crimes, the budget was increased by 1.485 billion KRW to establish a foundation for blocking illegal harmful information, totaling 4.662 billion KRW to build a safe internet information utilization foundation. Moreover, through the citizen participation budget system, which allows the public to directly participate in central government budget planning, budgets were allocated for ① monitoring the distribution of digital sex crime materials on social networking service (SNS) platforms (590 million KRW) and ② establishing a rapid drug information blocking system (491 million KRW). This aims to strengthen user-tailored livelihood projects while enhancing the democracy and transparency of public finances.