A Study on Regulatory Measures against CRIMINAL Behaviors Related to Private Internet Broadcasting in KOREAN

Abstract

Amid recent surge in private internet broadcasting, BJs are broadcasting provocative contents, swearing, rude comments, dangerous behaviors, etc., every day for greater profits and revenue from viewers paying certain amount as subscription fees. If this continues, concern will be mounting over the prospect that imitative crimes or criminal behavior preview, etc., featured by private internet broadcasting may be put on the airwaves. If such broad casting practice is not restricted properly, adolescent crimes will be also affected adversely. This study was intended to examine problems arising from private internet broadcasting, discuss legal restriction on such private internet broadcasting regulated in Korea, and present related regulatory measures. Many problems have arisen from downside of private internet broadcasting which may also have many different beneficial and useful contents. To facilitate private internet broadcasting culture take root by promoting more useful and diverse contents, some regulatory measures need to be taken. First, clear guidelines need to be laid out for threshold of broadcasting and criteria for contents when contracts are signed with individual BJs. Besides, education would be needed on broadcasting contents, along with review of qualification of BJs. Moreover, revenue amount needs to be adjusted to change current practice of paying thousands of won(Korean currency unit) at a time. Second, advancement of internet has made it tricky to apply conventional criteria related to exercise of jurisdiction and limitation in all aspects of routine lives. Third, unambiguous criteria for harmful broadcasting need to be established. Criminal behaviors in private internet broadcasting correspond to crimes committed actually offline, not merely via information communication networks, and are broadcast exactly as they are occurring. If they are not regulated in advance, private internet broadcasting can be a breeding ground for even more serious or imitative crimes. Prevention is the most important because private internet broadcasting can be used only as a means of making money without regard to its potential criminality in this era taking monetary side as top priority, although private internet broadcasting also provides useful information and fun.