KCC to Mandate Telegram to Designate Youth Protection Officer Responsibility

Checking Whether Obligated Business Operators Apply
Exploring Measures to Strengthen Sanctions for Non-Compliance

On the 12th, the Korea Communications Commission announced that it sent an official letter to Telegram requesting the submission of materials related to the designation of a Youth Protection Officer. This request aims to verify whether Telegram falls under the category of obligated service providers required to designate a Youth Protection Officer according to the Information and Communications Network Act.

Gang Hoon, known as 'Buddha,' the co-operator of the Telegram 'Doctor's Room' along with Jo Joo-bin, is being transferred to the prosecution by police vehicle on the 17th at Jongno Police Station in Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

As Telegram chat rooms have been identified as a hotbed for the distribution of illegal content such as deepfake sexual crime videos, the Commission determined that it is necessary to enforce the obligation for Telegram to designate a Youth Protection Officer.

The Youth Protection Officer system is a legal obligation imposed on value-added telecommunications service providers of a certain scale to protect children and adolescents on information and communication networks.

Targeted service providers must designate an executive-level officer or the head of a department responsible for youth protection as the Youth Protection Officer, who is tasked with blocking and managing harmful information for youth on the information and communication service network they provide, as well as establishing youth protection plans and carrying out youth protection duties.

The Commission plans to continuously notify Telegram to fulfill its obligations and will consider progressively strengthening sanctions if Telegram fails to comply despite repeated requests.