Article 7(Consumer Policy Bureau) #
(1) The Director General for Consumer Policy shall be appointed from among members in general service of the Senior Executive Service.
(2) A Deputy Director General for Market Investigation shall be placed under the direction and supervision of the Director General for Consumer Policy, and the Deputy Director General for Market Investigation shall be appointed from among members in general service of the Senior Executive Service.
(3) The Deputy Director General for Market Investigation shall assist the Director General with the matters under paragraphs (9) through (12).
(4) The Consumer Policy Bureau shall have a Consumer Policy Coordination Division, Digital Consumer Infrastructure Division, Digital Illegal and Harmful Information Response Division, Telecommunications Dispute Conciliation Team, Investigation Planning Coordination Division, Broadcasting Market Investigation Division, Telecommunications Market Investigation Division, and Value-added Telecommunication Investigation Support Team; and each Director shall be appointed from among Grade III or IV public officials, and each team head shall be appointed from among Grade IV or V public officials, respectively.
(5) The Director for Consumer Policy shall have charge of the following matters:
1. Formulation and execution of comprehensive plans for protection of users of broadcasting and communications;
2. Analysis, enactment, and amendment of statutes and regulations on protection of consumers of broadcasting communications;
3. General supervision and coordination of policies for protection of consumers of broadcasting and communications;
4. Collection, analysis, and utilization of information related to protection of consumers of broadcasting and communications;
5. External cooperation related to formulation and implementation of policies for protection of consumers of broadcasting and communications;
6. Support for domestic associations and organizations related to protection of consumers of broadcasting and communications;
7. Identification of policy issues related to the protection of broadcast communication users and establishment of strategies to promote them;
8. Research and surveys related to protection of broadcasting and communications users;
9. Matters regarding domestic business cooperation, coordination, etc.;
10. Review of investigation reports on agenda regarding protection of communications service users;
11. Collection and analysis of data on deliberation and resolution system for protection of broadcasting and communications users and publication of data collections;
12. Other matters not under the jurisdictions of other divisions and teams in the Bureau.
(6) The Director for Digital Consumer Infrastructure shall have charge of the following matters: <Amended on Feb. 25, 2025>
1. Development and dissemination of means for user identification in information and communications networks;
2. Matters regarding the designation of identity verification agencies under Article 23-3 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection;
2-2. Formulation of an examination plan for and conducting an examination of approval for the creation and processing of connecting information under Article 23-5 of the Act on the Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection;
3. Matters regarding measures for identity verification under Article 44-5 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection;
4. Establishment and promotion of measures to prevent the transmission of illegal advertising information;
5. Regulation and crackdown on illegal advertising information;
6. Establishment and promotion of measures to establish sound cyber ethics;
7. Policy research and education and publicity related to cyber ethics;
8. Support for public institutions, corporations, organizations, etc. related to cyber ethics;
9. Inspection and investigation of the status of implementation of measures to protect user information in information and communications networks, such as consent of information and communications service providers to access rights;
10. Inspection and investigation of whether a provider of information and communications services has implemented restrictions on the use of users' resident registration numbers under Article 23-2 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection;
10-2. Inspection of the actual conditions of operation and management of physical, technical, and administrative measures taken by identity verification agencies under Article 23-6 of the Act on the Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection and safety measures taken by entities using connecting information;
11. Matters regarding the establishment and amendment of criteria for imposition of administrative fines under Article 76 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection;
12. Sanctions against service providers violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection and the publication of the details of violations;
13. Matters regarding the formulation and implementation of master plans for promoting the use of location information and the laws and systems therefor;
14. Matters regarding registration, authorization, and reporting of location information providers;
15. Protection of location information and formulation of industrial policies;
16. Development and dissemination of location information services and dissemination and proliferation of technical standards;
17. Matters regarding the establishment and amendment of the criteria for imposition of penalty surcharges and administrative fines under Articles 14 and 43 of the Act on the Protection and Use of Location Information for violation of a statute or regulation related to user location information committed by any service provider;
18. Inspection and investigation of technical and managerial measures taken by location information providers and location-based service providers for protecting user location information under Article 16 of the Act on the Protection and Use of Location Information;
19. Sanctions against service providers for violation of the Act on the Protection and Use of Location Information;
20. Inspection and investigation of current status of protection of location information of location information providers and location-based service providers;
21. Improvement of systems for promotion of rights and interests of users of broadcasting and communications and rationalization of their use;
22. Collection and provision of information for promotion of rights and interests of broadcasting and communications users;
23. Operation of a system for evaluation of policies for protection of broadcasting and communications users;
24. Operation of the ombudsman system in the field of broadcasting and communications services;
25. Strengthening the linkage between complaints about communications services and policies for user protection;
26. Evaluation of service satisfaction of broadcasting and communications users;
27. Enhancement of the ability of the underprivileged, including senior citizens, to use digital services and dissemination of apps;
28. Establishment and operation of user education and participation plans in the field of broadcasting and communications services;
29. Broadcasting and communications damage prevention services, such as issuing civil petition forecasts.
(7) The Director of the Digital Illegal and Harmful Information Response Division shall have charge of the following matters:
1. Implementation of communications decisions made by the Korea Communications Standards Commission;
2. Matters regarding cooperation with agencies related to the blocking of illegal information on information and communications networks;
3. Matters regarding youth protection on information and communications networks;
4. Support for private self-regulation for user protection on information and communications networks and the dissemination of Internet content rating databases;
5. Establishment of basic policies on the prevention of the distribution of illegal and harmful information through information and communications networks, and the enactment and amendment of relevant statutes and regulations;
6. Matters regarding cooperation with relevant agencies on the prevention of the distribution of illegal and harmful information through information and communications networks;
7. Support for the self-regulatory system to prevent the distribution of illegal and harmful information through information and communications networks;
8. Inspection and investigation of the actual status of measures taken by special value-added telecommunications business entities under Article 22-3 (1) of the Telecommunications Business Act to prevent the circulation of unlawful and harmful information, and imposition of relevant sanctions;
9. Inspection and investigation of the actual status of measures taken by value-added telecommunications service providers under Article 22-5 of the Telecommunications Business Act to prevent the circulation of unlawful and harmful information, and imposition of relevant sanctions;
10. Matters regarding the training, etc. of persons responsible for preventing the circulation of illegally filmed materials or the like under Article 44-9 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection;
11. Matters regarding the ascertainment, disclosure, etc. of the facts of transparency reports under Article 64-5 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection;
12. Establishment of basic policies for user protection on information and communications networks and the enactment and amendment of relevant statutes and regulations;
13. Prevention of infringement of cyber rights and remedies for victims;
14. Development of indexes and statistical surveys related to cyber rights violations.
(8) The Head of Telecommunications Dispute Conciliation shall have charge of the following matters:
1. Conciliation and arrangement of communications-related disputes;
2. Inspection of whether communications-related ruling cases are handled and implemented;
3. Composition and operation of subcommittees for arrangement of resolution of communications-related disputes;
4. Establishment of mid- to long-term development plans for communications-related dispute conciliation procedures and systems;
5. Prevention of communications-related disputes and public relations for citizens;
6. Organization and operation of a legal expert advisory group communications-related disputes.
(9) The Director for Investigation Planning Coordination shall have charge of the following matters:
1. Formulation of comprehensive plans for surveys on broadcasting and communications markets;
2. Establishment of business system for market surveys on broadcasting communications;
3. Analysis of trends and management of statistics related to prohibited acts under Article 50 of the Telecommunications Business Act, Articles 76-3 and 85-2 of the Broadcasting Act, Article 17 of the Internet Multimedia Broadcast Services Act, and Article 15 of the Act on Broadcast Advertising Sales Agencies (hereafter referred to as "prohibited acts" in this paragraph);
4. Improvement of statutes and regulations and systems related to prohibited acts and preparation of guidelines;
5. Assessment and analysis of market impacts of prohibited acts;
6. Criminal prosecution against business entities that violate prohibited acts;
7. Regulatory reform related to prohibited acts;
8. Assisting in deliberation and resolution on agenda items related to prohibited acts;
9. Review of reports on agenda issues related to business combination of broadcasting and communications business entities;
10. Development of broadcasting and communications market research techniques and enhancement of researchers' expertise;
11. General supervision over and coordination of investigations of prohibited acts;
12. Enactment and amendment of statutes and regulations related to the investigation of prohibited acts;
13. Cooperation, collaboration, and transfer of investigations between similar investigative agencies;
14. Enactment and amendment of regulations on case handling procedures, etc.;
15.Establishment and amendment of standards for imposition of penalty surcharges, etc. for violations of prohibited acts and standards for determining illegality, such as prohibited acts;
16. Investigation and handling of cases of objections raised against sanctions related to prohibited acts;
17. Composition and operation of a legal expert advisory group related to prohibited acts;
18. Matters regarding the improvement of the system to create an environment for fair competition in broadcasting and communications markets;
19. Formulation and implementation of plans to establish order in broadcasting and communications markets.
(10) The Director for Broadcasting Market Survey shall have charge of the following matters:
1. Investigation of business entities that violate prohibited acts and issuance of orders to take corrective measures in accordance with Articles 76-3 and 85-2 of the Broadcasting Act;
2. Investigation of business entities that violate prohibited acts under Article 17 of the Internet Multimedia Broadcast Services Act and issuance of orders to take corrective measures;
3. Investigation of business entities that violate prohibited acts under Article 15 of the Act on Broadcast Advertising Sales Agencies and issuance of corrective orders;
4. Preparation of fact-finding inspection reports on violations of prohibited acts described in Articles 76-3 and 85-2 of the Broadcasting Act, Article 17 of the Internet Multimedia Broadcast Services Act, and Article 15 of the Act on Broadcast Advertising Sales Agencies; and statements and hearings of opinions of interested parties;
5. Inspection and management of the compliance with the corrective measures imposed on and execution status of corrective orders issued to broadcasting business entities, Internet multimedia broadcasting business entities, and broadcasting advertisement sales agencies;
6. Sanctions against prohibited acts by broadcasting business entities, Internet multimedia broadcasting business entities, and broadcasting advertising sales agencies;
7. Matters regarding the establishment of a fair trading order in the broadcasting market;
8. Establishment of policies and systems related to the creation of an environment for fair competition in the broadcasting market;
9. Matters regarding market analysis related to the creation of an environment for fair competition in the broadcasting market;
10. Public announcement of the asset status of broadcasting business entities under Article 98-2 of the Broadcasting Act and analysis of their business management;
11.Matters regarding the establishment, etc. of standards for the classification and reorganization of accounts of broadcasting business entities;
12. Collection, analysis, and provision of data related to broadcasting business entities, Internet multimedia broadcasting business entities, and broadcasting advertisement sales agencies;
13. Analysis of terms and conditions on the protection of viewers' rights and interests and improvement of business procedures;
14. Matters regarding the improvement of the system for protecting the rights and interests of viewers and creating an environment for fair competition in the broadcast advertisement market;
15. Preparation of fact-finding inspection reports on protection of viewers' rights and interests;
16. Matters regarding mediation and recommendations for settlement of disputes related to broadcasting;
17. Composition and operation of the Broadcasting Dispute Conciliation Committee under Article 35-3 of the Broadcasting Act;
18. Organization and operation of a legal expert advisory group on disputes related to broadcasting and prohibited acts under Articles 76-3 and 85-2 of the Broadcasting Act, Article 17 of the Internet Multimedia Broadcast Services Act, and Article 15 of the Act on Broadcast Advertising Sales Agencies;
19. Establishment of mid- to long-term development plans for broadcast-related dispute conciliation procedures and systems;
20. Prevention of broadcast-related disputes and publicity campaigns;
(11) The Director for Telecommunications Market Investigation shall have charge of the following matters:
1. Investigation of facilities-based telecommunications business operators that violate prohibited acts under Article 50 of the Telecommunications Business Act and imposition of sanctions, such as corrective measures;
2. Investigation and corrective measures of violations of statutes and regulations related to combined sales by broadcasting and communications business entities;
3. Preparation of fact-finding inspection reports on violations by facilities-based telecommunications business operators of prohibited acts under Article 50 of the Telecommunications Business Act and on violations by broadcasting and communications business entities of statutes and regulations related to combined sales, and statements and hearings of opinions of interested parties;
4. Analysis of terms and conditions of facilities-based telecommunications business operators on protection of broadcasting and communications users and improvement of business processing procedures;
5. Planning to conduct fact-finding inspection of facilities-based telecommunications operators' acts that undermine users' interests;
6. Inspection and management of the compliance with the corrective measures imposed on facilities-based telecommunications business entities;
7. Matters regarding the collection, analysis, etc. of data related to facilities-based telecommunications business operators;
8. Analysis of trends in telecommunications market and market monitoring;
9. Matters regarding monitoring of distribution markets and establishment of investigation plans for the establishment of sound distribution order;
10. Matters regarding the prohibition of payment of unreasonably discriminatory subsidy for mobile communications terminal devices, restrictions on payment of excessive subsidies, and operation of a system for public disclosure of the details and requirements of subsidy payments;
11. Matters regarding surveillance of conclusion of individual contracts linked with subsidies for mobile communications terminal devices and monitoring of false or exaggerated advertisements and issuance of corrective orders;
12. Matters regarding notices to users of mobile communication business operators, agents, or sales stores related to installment sales of mobile communications terminal devices;
13. Matters regarding the operation of a system to issue emergency orders for suspension related to subsidies for mobile communications terminal devices;
14. Matters regarding the retention and management of materials related to subsidies for mobile communications terminal devices, incentives, and ex-factory prices of mobile communications terminal devices by mobile communications terminal device manufacturers and mobile communications business operators;
15. Matters regarding monitoring, fact-finding inspection, and corrective measures for violations of prohibitions or restrictions between mobile communications terminal device manufacturers, mobile communications business operators, and agents and sales stores and for acts of hindering fair and orderly distribution;
16. Preparation of fact-finding inspection reports on violations of the Mobile Device Distribution Improvement Act, and statements and hearings of opinions of interested persons;
(12) The Head of Value-Added Telecommunications Investigation Support Team shall have charge of the following matters:
1. Investigation of value-added telecommunications business entities that violate prohibited acts under Article 50 of the Telecommunications Business Act and imposition of sanctions, such as corrective measures;
2. Preparation of fact-finding inspection reports on violations by value-added telecommunications business entities of prohibited acts under Article 50 of the Telecommunications Business Act and other relevant provisions of that Act, and statements and hearings of opinions of interested parties;
3. Analysis of value-added telecommunications business entities' terms and conditions for the protection of broadcasting and communications consumers and improvement of business processing procedures;
4. Planning for fact-finding inspection of value-added telecommunications business entities' acts that undermine the interests of consumers;
5. Inspection and management of the compliance with the corrective measures imposed on value-added telecommunications business entities;
6. Collection, analysis, etc. of data related to value-added telecommunications business operators.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Nov. 28, 2023]