Telecommunications Business Act (Jeontong Saeop Beop)
The Telecommunications Business Act (Jeontong Saeop Beop) governs the regulation of telecommunications businesses in South Korea. Originally enacted in 1991, the Act establishes the framework for licensing, interconnection, spectrum allocation, and the regulation of telecommunications services. The Act has been amended to address the convergence of telecommunications, broadcasting, and internet services.
Legal area: Law governing the use of information and communications technology and the internet.
Year enacted: 1991
Full text: https://elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/law_view.do?hseq=south-korea-telecommunications-business-act
Key Provisions
- Chapter I: General provisions (telecommunications business categories)
- Chapter II: Licensing (facilities-based, service-based)
- Chapter III: Interconnection and access (rate regulation)
- Chapter IV: Spectrum allocation (radio frequency management)
- Chapter V: User protection (service quality, billing)
- Chapter VI: Supervision and enforcement
Significance
The Telecommunications Business Act provides the regulatory framework for South Korea’s advanced telecommunications infrastructure. South Korea has one of the world’s fastest internet speeds and highest broadband penetration rates. The Act has been amended to address net neutrality, over-the-top (OTT) services, and 5G deployment. The Ministry of Science and ICT exercises supervisory authority. South Korea’s telecommunications sector has been instrumental in the country’s digital transformation.