Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Lee Kyeong-jae 

delivers a speech at his inauguration ceremony at the Gwacheon 

Government Complex south of Seoul on April 17. 

Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Lee Kyeong-jae, in his inaugural speech, stressed collaboration in an era of convergence between broadcasting and communications, indicating cooperation with the newly-inaugurated Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, which will spearhead the Park government’ s so-called creative economy.

KCC Chairman Kim also said at his inauguration ceremony at the Gwacheon Government Complex south of Seoul on April 17, “The KCC’ s principal missions are to secure the public’ s interest in ensuring freedom of the press to protect a liberal democracy and enhancing the fairness of broadcasting and people’ s dignity.”

But Lee warned against mistakes involving the various government ministries’  partitioned policies in deliberating pending issues. He stressed the need for building a cooperative framework to break down the partitions between the KCC and the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning and indicated a willingness to extend full support to the ministry. 

Kim told a meeting of reporters following his inauguration, “Japan had gotten a jump-start in cellular phone technology, but was left behind in the global competition due to regulations over their overseas entry, so [I will make sure] the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning will not be bogged down by regulations.”

The KCC chairman expressed the view that the producing and selling of cellular phones should be separated.

He said the KCC will review the retransmitting of terrestrial broadcasting programs to determine if retransmitting fees correspond to a realistic and logical perspective. He was referring to the current situation in which viewers’  rights are taken hostage in order to negotiate fees for retransmitting terrestrial broadcasting programs.

In a policy briefing to President Park Geun-hye on April 18, KCC Chairman Kim unveiled his vision of creating a creative and fair environment for broadcasting and communications. The Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning and Nuclear Safety and Security Communication also joined the policy briefing session. 

Kim said the KCC plans to realize fairness in broadcasting and give its full support to a creative economy for converging broadcasting and communications.

The KCC plans to revamp the audience share system, calling for adding to smart TV and smartphone audiences in carrying out audience share surveys in keeping with changes in the media environment.

The commission will provide support to the building of infrastructure for broadcasting content diversity and production of broadcasting content, contributing to the creation of a creative economy, ramping up the public awareness of broadcasting advertisements, and revitalizing the advertisement industry.

The inauguration of the new Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning was delayed after the ruling and opposition parties had been at loggerheads over President Park’ s government reorganization plan, particularly in dispute over the division of authority between the KCC and the new Future Planning and Science Ministry. They belatedly reached an agreement to allow the KCC to retain the right to license terrestrial broadcasts. In return, the ministry shall have the right to approve SOs and satellite broadcasters, but must get an endorsement by the KCC.

KCC Chairman Lee, 72, is a media expert and former four-term lawmaker of the ruling party. A Seoul National University graduate, the KCC chairman was a newspaper journalist for more than 20 years and served as presidential secretary and vice minister of public relations in early 1990s. He entered the National Assembly in 1996 and served four straight terms until 2012.