Digital switchover of terrestrial broadcasting in Korea: legal background and major policy issues

Having adopted digital terrestrial television relatively early on, South Korea is set to complete its digital switchover by the end of 2012, when analogue terrestrial television broadcasting is scheduled to be switched off nationwide. Of Korea's 17 million households, approximately 90 per cent subscribe to pay TV, but digital switchover on this timetable remains a challenge, after the delay the country experienced in reviewing its choice of technical standards. A pilot project in three cities in 2010 will be followed by a full analogue switch-off in Jeju area in 2011. At the end of 2009, the levels of public awareness and digital TV take-up were below 50 per cent point. This study examines the legal background behind Korea's digital switchover process and major policy issues noted in the progress.