A scene from the New Year’s reception for all media people held at Korea Chamber 

of Commerce and Industry building in the evening of Jan. 6 hosted by the Korea Communications 

Commission. The participants included Prime Minister Chung Hong-won and top executives 

of leading media companies including KBS, MBC and SBS as well as YNA and cable TVs such as YTN, 

TV Chosun, Channel A,JTBC, MBN, CJ E&M, Hyundai HCN and Traffic Broadcasting, among others, and  KT, 

SKT and SK Broadband, among other telecommunication firms. (Photo:KCC, article by SKL)

An occasion to exchange New Year’s greetings among media people from all around the country took place on Jan. 6 at the Korea Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Seoul near the South Gate led by Prime Minister Chung Hong-won and Chairman Lee Kyung-jae of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC).

On hand at the event included top executives of KBS, MBC, SBS, OBS, YTN, and Yonhap News Agency, as well as online newspapers, cable TV companies including TV Chosun, Channel A, JTBC, MBN, Arirang TV, CJ E&M, Hyundai HCN, tbs Traffic Broadcasting, and other broadcasting and media firms, and Samwha Networks and Pan-Media Holdings, among program suppliers, and KT SKT and SK Broadband, among the communication service firms, to name just a few.

Prime Minster Chung, in his greetings speech for the New Year, said the broadcasting and communication industry is a major sector in the country that can do a lot to help the Creative Economy blossom. The government is determined to reform the regulations concerning the industry and spur the content industry so that it can advance to the global stage with all kinds of diverse support. The government is glad to join hands with the people of the industry and to collect the wisdom needed to resuscitate the economy in order to open a new age of hope and take a joint step toward the objective.

The government will push a comprehensive plan for the development of the broadcasting industry this year. The plan, written at the end of 2013, calls for the creation of the Creative Ecology for the integration of broadcasting and communication sectors for growth with the ICT area, and linked with culture, tourism, manufacturing, and distribution. Furthermore, the government will deregulate the industry and, at the same time, reignite the contents market while boosting its independent operation.

The government will provide its support for the industry to go overseas for operations with diverse business models. “If the industry can achieve success and grow further, no doubt many young people will find jobs, which will require the help of the people in the industry,” the prime minister said.

“You have done so well so far, but we hope you will continue to work well this year, too,” the prime minister said.

“Changes in the broadcasting and communication industry occur fast with great impact on the people. Technologies change rapidly, the same with the market, and therefore the industry should be always ready to cope with the changes because success or failure depends on how fast the industry copes with changes. You should work as if the national economy depends on you, as the industry has a great impact on the country’s economic progress,” the prime minister said.

KCC Chairman Lee said in his New Year’s speech that he would like to express his appreciation for the hard work done by the broadcasting and communication families that have been leading the Hallyu fad, a major player in the Creative Economy. He said he wants this year to be the year for harmony for broadcasting, media, and communication industries through competition. 

Lee said the KCC has many tasks ahead this year including an increase in KBS fees, reform of the complex advertisement placement system and overseas operation of KBS World, Arirang TV, and other broadcasting platforms in a fair manner to contribute to the Creative Economy and protect the people’s interests.