Guidelines issued for public servant YouTubers

By Bahk Eun-ji

Public servants running channels on YouTube and other online platforms will have to register their activities as side jobs with their offices if they make money with the channels, the government said, Monday.

The Ministry of Personnel Management issued a guideline on civil servants' online broadcasting after discussions with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

The guidelines have come as there had been no regulations on public workers' online activities, while the number of channels run by civil servants has been on the rise. They are an update from an earlier set of guidelines issued by the education ministry in July for teachers ― teachers at public schools who are public servants, as well as for those at private schools and part-time teachers.

Under the current law, public servants as well as school teachers are allowed to work as writers and translators, and this will also apply to online activities, which are also part of their private life.

According to the guidelines, civil servants will be allowed to produce content related to their personal interests or hobbies in principle. But the operators need to abide by the duty required as public servants, such as keeping “dignity” as civil servants, not leaking confidential information acquired while on duty, and not participating in political activities.

Content that defames others, violates others' rights or includes curse words or violent or suggestive imagery will be prohibited regardless of the video's purpose. Advertising specific goods or making profits in return will also be banned.

YouTubers can gain profit from advertising when they have more than 1,000 subscribers and produce over 4,000 hours of videos a year. If a public servant's channel fulfills these conditions and the person wants to continue the channel, they have to get approval for their “second job” from the head of their office.

For other platforms that do not have specific conditions for profits, such as Afreeca TV, the person should seek approval when they start to make a profit.

The heads of offices can refuse approval if they think holding two jobs hinders the applicant's job as public servants. The approval is granted on a yearly basis, and re-examination is required annually for extension.

According to government data, 63 channels have been operated by public servants at central governments, 75 by public servants at local governments and 1,248 by teachers.

“We hope these guidelines will help public servants demonstrate and share their talents, but also urge them to always keep in mind their role as civil servants,” Jang Man-seok, a director of the management innovation bureau of the personnel management ministry, said in a statement.

The ministry said a finalized version of the guidelines will be announced in the middle of next month.