Government and Three Major Mobile Carriers Step Up Efforts to Block Spam from Overseas Ahead of Chuseok

[Financial News] The government, together with the three major mobile carriers and bulk messaging providers, has begun reviewing its anti-spam system and stepping up its response. It plans to block the distribution channels of illegal spam by tightening measures against bulk texts sent from invalid numbers and spam originating overseas, while also advancing AI-based filtering.
The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) and the Ministry of Science and ICT held the 6th plenary meeting of the public-private consultative body on illegal spam in Seoul on the 14th. The meeting was co-hosted by KMCC and the Ministry of Science and ICT, and organized by the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA). Officials from the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), the Korean National Police Agency, other related ministries and expert agencies, as well as telecom operators including SK Telecom, KT Corporation, and LG Uplus, and Samsung Electronics attended.
Participants reviewed overall progress on the five major strategies and 12 detailed tasks under the comprehensive anti-illegal-spam measures being carried out since late 2024. They also discussed policy measures that reflect recent changes in the environment.
KMCC explained the main points of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., along with related notices. It also urged businesses to actively participate in measures such as disclosing spam complaint status, strengthening the sharing of sender numbers used for illegal spam, and enhancing and linking AI filtering systems.
The Ministry of Science and ICT called for the adoption of the illegal spam invalid-number blocking system, which blocks bulk texts sent from invalid numbers, and asked for improvements in blocking spam from overseas through cooperation with foreign messaging providers.
It also urged thorough management and oversight of customers who send bulk messages through domestic and international message relay providers.
The three major mobile carriers and Kakao said they would strengthen warnings and blocking measures against illegal spam that could emerge ahead of the Chuseok holiday in September, in an effort to prevent harm to users.
Shin Young-gyu, director general of the Broadcasting and Communications User Policy Bureau at KMCC, said, "KMCC will swiftly complete improvements to related systems so that the public can safely enjoy digital media services without worrying about illegal spam."
Nam Seok, director of telecommunications policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, emphasized, "We will work even harder to eradicate illegal spam through the invalid-number blocking system and the measures to improve blocking of spam from overseas that were discussed this time."

[email protected] Choi Hye-rim Reporter