National Planning Committee Signals Media Policy Restructuring... Disagreements on Broadcasting Commission Reorganization

[Financial News] The National Planning Committee has launched the 'Media Innovation National Council (tentative name)' in response to the rapidly changing media environment, signaling the start of discussions on media governance restructuring. The Media Innovation National Council, a pledge by President Lee Jae-myung, is expected to oversee the reorganization of broadcasting policy, regulation, and promotion functions that are currently dispersed across the Broadcasting and Communications Commission, Ministry of Science and ICT, and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. 
Cho Seung-rae, spokesperson of the National Planning Committee, held a briefing at the annex of the Government Seoul Building in Changseong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 16th, stating, "If the discussion on the reorganization of the Broadcasting Commission is not settled in the National Planning Committee's task force (TF), it will have to be discussed in the Media Innovation National Council." On this day, the National Planning Committee held a consultation meeting to gather opinions for the promotion of the 'Media Innovation National Council (tentative name)', officially starting discussions on media governance restructuring. The Media Innovation National Council will lead discussions on △ the integration and improvement of dispersed governance and legislation related to broadcasting and video media, △ the complete revision of the Broadcasting Commission Establishment Act to normalize and enhance the professional capabilities of the Broadcasting Commission, which are included in President Lee's presidential campaign pledges. 
Spokesperson Cho explained, "There are many opinions that the reorganization of the Broadcasting Commission's functions is necessary in the Government Organization Restructuring TF, but opinions differ on the direction of the reorganization," adding, "There are arguments to compress the Broadcasting Commission to the broadcasting sector and adjust communications to fit the AI era, proposals to send similar functions to the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and proposals to create a separate single-ministry department, all of which have pros and cons, so various discussions are ongoing."
He continued, "The Media Innovation National Council is naturally a framework for discussing comprehensive media-related issues, and if the discussion on the reorganization of the Broadcasting Commission is not settled within the National Planning Committee, it will have to be discussed in the council."

mkchang@fnnews.com Jang Min-gwon Reporter