Budget up 13.2% from previous year under 'media-based society' vision
The Korea Communications Commission announced Tuesday it has drawn up a budget and fund management plan totaling 297.7 billion won ($217 million) for next year — the first budget compiled since its establishment last October and a 34.6 billion won increase, or 13.2 percent, from the previous year.
Under the goal of building a "media-based society," the commission said it allocated the funds with priority given to three areas: supporting the sustainable development and innovation of the broadcasting and media ecosystem, creating a safe and trustworthy digital environment, and strengthening citizens' media sovereignty.
The commission's core concept of a "media-based society" refers to a society in which all citizens can easily and safely access media and enjoy its benefits equally, at a time when everyday life — spanning politics, economics, society and culture — is increasingly conducted through media.
To support the growth of the broadcasting and media industry and the broader shift toward AI transformation, the commission allocated 10 billion won in new funding for a pilot project to process video content held by broadcasters into training data for AI systems.
Starting next year, the commission also plans to launch a range of new support programs for small and independent broadcasters, including AI-based production and editing solution vouchers, short-form content production using AI technology, and internship programs for young workers trained in AI.
Research and development funding to secure original AI-based broadcasting production and editing technologies was also significantly increased. New projects will also be launched to support the development of an integrated service platform for domestic radio broadcasters and to standardize viewership data for paid broadcasting services.
The establishment of a "Transparency Center" — which the commission has been pursuing under the revised Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection — is expected to move into full swing. Commission Chairman Kim Jong-cheol had earlier officially announced the creation of a dedicated body to block illegal content at a press briefing marking his first 100 days in office.
The commission said it had secured operating and project funding for the "ICT Service Transparency Center," to be established under the revised law that took effect July 7. "We expect this will allow the Transparency Center to smoothly carry out its statutory duties, including supporting fact-checking organizations and conducting research and education related to fact-checking," it said.
To strengthen media sovereignty, the budget for media literacy education run by the Korea Audience Foundation was set at about 2.4 billion won, roughly double the previous year's allocation. Some 2.5 billion won each was earmarked for the construction of audience media centers in North Gyeongsang Province and North Jeolla Province.
Funding was also increased for programs to improve media access for people with disabilities, including distribution of TV receivers for the hearing-impaired, production support for disability-accessible broadcasting, and development of an AI-based automated audio description system for the visually impaired.
Production support for regional and small broadcasters and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System was also increased from the previous year, and the commission's contribution to the "Digital Content Korea Fund," co-managed with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was set at 5 billion won — a tenfold increase from the prior year.
"Through the 2027 budget, we will further strengthen citizens' media sovereignty and build the industrial competitiveness befitting a changing media environment," Chairman Kim said. "On that foundation, we will work to realize a 'media-based society' where everyone can enjoy the benefits of media and access safe, trustworthy content."
balme@heraldcorp.com
