By Jun Ji-hye
President Moon Jae-in picked former journalist Kim Chang-yong as a new standing member of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), a vice ministerial post, Monday.
As Kim, who is now a professor of mass communication at Inje University, has been known as an expert on issues related to the spread of "fake news," the appointment is expected to contribute to the communication regulator's ongoing efforts to prevent the distribution of disinformation.
"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," presidential spokeswoman Ko Min-jung said in a briefing. "He is an optimized figure who will deal with broadcast impartiality, improvement of public interest, user protection and other pending issues."
Kim received a Master's degree in journalism from City, University of London, and a Ph.D. in the same field from Cardiff University.
Then, he worked as a journalist at the domestic newspaper Kukmin Ilbo and at the Associated Press in Seoul.
He also worked as a researcher at the Korea Press Foundation.
While the spread of fake news has become one of the major issues stirring up trouble in the nation, Kim has earned a reputation for his book that is literally translated as "Fake news that you believed to be fact."
In September, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon bought 100 copies at his own expense and delivered them to officials at the KCC and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
KCC Chairman Han Sang-hyuk who took office in September has also stressed the need to combat fake news.
As part of the efforts, Han called for the creation of more institutions dedicated to checking whether or not certain information is based on fact, during a luncheon with journalists last week.
The role of the institutions would be ascertaining the veracity of information that is circulated especially online, and delivering their findings to media companies and regulatory agencies, he said.
President Moon Jae-in picked former journalist Kim Chang-yong as a new standing member of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), a vice ministerial post, Monday.
As Kim, who is now a professor of mass communication at Inje University, has been known as an expert on issues related to the spread of "fake news," the appointment is expected to contribute to the communication regulator's ongoing efforts to prevent the distribution of disinformation.
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| Kim Chang-yong |
Kim received a Master's degree in journalism from City, University of London, and a Ph.D. in the same field from Cardiff University.
Then, he worked as a journalist at the domestic newspaper Kukmin Ilbo and at the Associated Press in Seoul.
He also worked as a researcher at the Korea Press Foundation.
While the spread of fake news has become one of the major issues stirring up trouble in the nation, Kim has earned a reputation for his book that is literally translated as "Fake news that you believed to be fact."
In September, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon bought 100 copies at his own expense and delivered them to officials at the KCC and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
KCC Chairman Han Sang-hyuk who took office in September has also stressed the need to combat fake news.
As part of the efforts, Han called for the creation of more institutions dedicated to checking whether or not certain information is based on fact, during a luncheon with journalists last week.
The role of the institutions would be ascertaining the veracity of information that is circulated especially online, and delivering their findings to media companies and regulatory agencies, he said.
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