Translation result.
Proposed Directions for Improving Domestic Animation Scheduling Regulations and Recognition Criteria
Experts are calling for a policy shift toward a points-based incentive system.
They argue regulators should strengthen scheduling rules and modernize recognition criteria to help Korea’s broadcast animation industry compete in a rapidly changing media environment. Rather than relying on fixed quotas, policymakers should reward broadcasters and producers based on performance and quality.
The Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI) on April 16 published a report titled “Study on Rationalizing Domestic Animation Scheduling Regulations and Recognition Criteria,” diagnosing the limits of current broadcast animation scheduling rules and outlining reforms to boost industry competitiveness.
Animation generates high added value, spurs growth in related sectors and contributes to cultural touchstones that reach audiences of all ages.
The report examined how the rapid rise of digital platforms like OTT services and YouTube has eroded traditional broadcast audiences. It assessed the effectiveness of existing scheduling regulations for animation and proposed short-, medium- and long-term reforms to align policy with the changing broadcast landscape.
As a near-term fix, the report recommends analyzing actual viewing data for children aged 4–14 and shifting the weighted “children’s prime” scheduling window to reflect real viewing habits—expanding it into late afternoons and weekend daytime slots.
Another short-term proposal calls for updating the revenue brackets used to determine broadcasters’ mandatory domestic animation quotas.
Specifically, the report suggests adjusting the current “1% of total broadcast hours” obligation—now applied uniformly to terrestrial broadcasters—so it varies by broadcaster revenue, bringing terrestrial rules in line with other platforms.
The aim is to eliminate regulatory blind spots, improve fairness across media and increase policy effectiveness by modernizing revenue categories.
The report also recommends updating recognition criteria to reflect the rise in international co-productions. For multinational collaborations, it proposes lowering the domestic investment threshold from 30% to 20% to encourage cross-border partnerships.
It further proposes revising bonus-point categories to reflect current production conditions.
Research fellow Joo Seong-hee said, “A quota-centered system places burdens on traditional broadcasters and animation producers already strained by digital platform growth, and it ultimately works against viewer welfare.”
Drawing on international examples, the report recommends a long-term redesign that evaluates content quality, job-creation impact and global performance to award points or credits. Those credits could be tied to government support and tax incentives, reframing regulation as an investment rather than a mandatory cost.
The report also argues animation policy should evolve beyond scheduling rules into an integrated framework covering production, investment and distribution, and it maps out a strategic direction for domestic broadcast animation policy.
Key recommendations include redesigning scheduling hours and weighting based on children’s viewing habits; rationalizing quota brackets according to broadcaster revenue; easing recognition criteria to promote international co-productions; shifting from quota-based rules to performance-based policies; and expanding policy to encompass OTT and other platforms as part of an integrated content strategy.
© Dailian Co., Ltd. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited.
- [Exclusive] Workers born in the 1990s are leaving too: LG Chem launches voluntary retirement program for businesses marked for sale
- [Exclusive] Government secured rerouted naphtha supplies, but Hanwha Total declares ‘force majeure’
- [Exclusive] The ‘Deutsche Motors’ sign that stood under Mayor Jung Won-oh was fixed within a day after Kim Jae-seop pointed it out
- Miss Iran lashes out: South Korea gave 700 million KRW (approximately 525,000 USD) to Iran, openly cheering terrorism
- Is Jung Won-oh inevitably Seoul’s next mayor? Proving whether it’s talent or hype will be decisive
Most Commented