Korea Communications Commission (KCC) obtained on Monday a new standing member, former journalist Kim Chang-yong as a vice minister, nominated by President Moon Jae-in.
Kim, now a professor of mass communication at Inje University, is an expert on issues related to the propagation of “fake news.” The communication regulator’s ongoing efforts to avert the spreading of disinformation will significantly benefit from his appointment.
Presidential spokeswoman Ko Min-jung said in a briefing, “Kim is an expert with both the theories and practices in the journalism field as he has been a journalist, media researcher, and professor of mass communication.” She added, “He is an optimized figure who will deal with broadcast impartiality, improvement of public interest, user protection, and other pending issues.”
Kim received from the University of London a Master’s Degree in Journalism and from Cardiff University a Ph.D. in the same field.
He then worked as a journalist at a local newspaper Kukmin Ilbo and the Associated Press in Seoul. He also became a researcher at the Korea Press Foundation.
Kim earned a reputation for his book, which translated as “Fake news that you believed to be fact,” despite the distribution of fake news becoming one of the major issues causing trouble in the nation.
At his own expense, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon bought 100 copies last September and gave them to officials at the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and at the KCC.
Also, in September, KCC Chairman Han Sang-hyuk took office and stressed the need to combat fake news.
Han, during a luncheon meeting with the press last week, called for the creation of more institutions devoted to examining whether or not certain information is fact-based.
The role of the institutions would be to determine the authenticity of information circulated, especially online, and delivering their findings to media companies and regulatory agencies, he said.
