Broadcasting Media and Communications Commission: "No Discrimination Against U.S. Companies... Will Clarify Purpose and Effects of Network Act"

Official Response to Letter from U.S. Republican Representatives
On Concerns of Potential Abuse: "Same Application for Domestic and Foreign Businesses"

The Broadcasting, Media and Communications Committee announced on August 7 that the letter of protest sent by Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives—who have consistently sided with Coupang—regarding the revised Telecommunications Network Act, does not contain any provisions that discriminate against American companies.

Kim Jongcheol, Chairman of the Broadcasting, Media and Communications Committee. Yonhap News Agency

The committee stated, "This bill was introduced to address the social harms arising from changes in the digital environment and to strengthen user protection," adding, "It does not include any discriminatory elements against American companies." The committee went on to say, "Considering the purpose of the bill, we will actively explain its intent and anticipated effects to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, working closely with the relevant ministries."

Previously, Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter of protest to the committee regarding the revised Telecommunications Network Act.

In the letter, released on the 6th (local time), they argued that "(the amended law) poses a serious threat to speech and expression online" and claimed, "The KMCC [Broadcasting, Media and Communications Committee] will punish American companies and users for exercising constitutionally protected rights." They further expressed concern that the act’s scope of application is ambiguous, making it vulnerable to political censorship and other abuses. Last month, the House Judiciary Committee had also issued a report stating that the Korean government was treating American companies such as Coupang in a discriminatory manner, which would violate the Korea–U.S. trade agreement.

Meanwhile, the revised Telecommunications Network Act, which came into effect on July 7, stipulates punitive damages of up to five times the amount of damages for media organizations and corporate YouTubers who intentionally distribute false or manipulated information. Platform operators such as Naver, Kakao, and Google are obligated to delete or block false or manipulated information. The committee reaffirmed that the law applies equally to domestic and foreign entities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.