South Korea launches joint AI policy council for broadcast and streaming

The formalization of this council marks a critical shift toward data-driven AI innovation in South Korea’s media sector. By breaking down regulatory silos between legacy broadcasting and modern OTT platforms, the government is facilitating the access to high-quality training data necessary for domestic LLMs to compete globally. This move reduces administrative friction for streaming providers navigating telecommunications and content rules simultaneously. For the ecosystem, it signals a transition where metadata and archival video assets are treated as strategic R&D infrastructure. Industry participants should monitor the implementation of the Global K-FAST Alliance for specific changes in FAST channel distribution requirements and incentives.

The formation of the joint council occurs as the South Korean government aggressively expands its domestic AI infrastructure. According to Seoul Economic Daily in June 2026, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) recently selected Naver Cloud, Samsung SDS, and Elice Group to lead a 2.08 trillion won project to secure nearly 10,000 advanced GPUs. This initiative aims to build an 'AI expressway' specifically designed to support the development of independent foundation models and high-performance computing for the private and public sectors.

Simultaneously, the Ministry has launched an 'AI training data upcycling' project. Per DigitalToday in May 2026, this effort allocates 3 billion won to reprocess 30 existing datasets into generative-AI-ready formats. The project prioritizes large language models and 'physical AI' by integrating visual information with language commands to improve object interaction. These efforts align with the broader national goal of becoming a top three global AI power, as discussed in the June 2026 Korea Institute of Communications and Information Sciences forum.

On the content and event front, the Korea International Streaming Festival (KISF) remains a central pillar of this strategy. According to festival organizers in June 2026, the event features a bolstered scale for its Global OTT Awards and dedicated summits for both OTT and FAST sectors. The newly launched policy council intends to use KISF as a primary venue for showcasing the results of its inter-agency cooperation, including investment showcases and programs aimed at promoting K-content to international investors.