Gov't to Inspect All Entertainment Management Agencies
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Anchor: The Culture Ministry will inspect each and every entertainment management agency in South Korea and root out any considered unfit. The crackdown comes amid a series of reports that those agencies illegally prey on young people who wish to make it big in the entertainment industry. Kim Soyon has the details.
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Report: The Culture Ministry on Wednesday announced a set of measures to raise the standards of the entertainment management industry together with the Korea Entertainment Producers' Association and the Corea Entertainment Management Association.
The ministry says it has discovered roughly 500 entertainment agencies operating in South Korea through related networks and other information, but it believes around one-thousand could be up and running.
The director of the ministry's contents policy division says global interest is rising in Korean pop culture due largely to the popularity of K-pop music and Korean dramas. He says Korean contents are growing in influence at home and abroad and the Korean Wave pop phenomenon is boosting Korea's national brand image.
However, the director explained that many wannabe entertainers are falling prey to the illegal practices of some management agencies. He said this problem must be quickly resolved.
In order to prevent these fraudulent agencies from adversely affecting the entire industry, the ministry will keep the unqualified ones from entering the market and strengthen market transparency and accountability.
To this end, the ministry will join hands with civic associations to inspect every single entertainment management agency in the country. The first inspections will fall on companies that train aspiring talents in the music industry. Basic company information and details on their business area, staff member and the list of trainees they are fostering will be examined.
The ministry says it will also draft a new law to support the advancement of the popular culture and arts sector this year. The legislation will enable punishment of sexual predators and prohibit violators of the Teen Protection Act from setting up or working for any kind of management agency.
Until laws are enacted, the government will encourage agencies to voluntarily report their businesses.
Kim Soyon, KBS World Radio News.
Reported by KBS WORLD Radio
Contact the KBS News: englishweb@kbs.co.kr