Seoul to lift movie import curbs in 2006
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The government said yesterday that it would scrap its recommendation system for movie and music imports on Jan. 1, 2006.
The removal, decided at a weekly meeting of economy-related ministers, will coincide with Korea's liberalized import of Japanese animation.
"Participants agreed that such an import restriction is unnecessary because the country already has a content rating system for movies", the Ministry of Finance and Economy said in a statement, adding the similar rating system will be introduced for music albums to protect young people.
Currently, the Korea Media Rating Board, a government agency, must approve the importation of movies and music albums. The Supreme Court recently asked the Constitutional Court to review whether such an approval system violated the Constitution.
The policymakers also agreed to strengthen copyright protection of films and music and to lift restrictions requiring television stations to devote 30 percent of their programming to culture and education.
In addition, the government will provide tax reductions for small- and midsize startups in the entertainment industry and create a guarantee fund to assist those investing in cultural industries.
To promote the environmental service sector, the ministers agreed to introduce a registration system and provide tax incentives for environmental consulting and soil businesses.
The government will push forward its plan to build an industrial complex for environmental venture companies in Pangyo, a new city to be built on the southern outskirts of Seoul.
The participants also discussed the measures to keep the nation's construction industry from cooling down too fast. Plans are to be announced today after a policy coordination meeting with the ruling Uri Party.
By Sim Sung-tae
The removal, decided at a weekly meeting of economy-related ministers, will coincide with Korea's liberalized import of Japanese animation.
"Participants agreed that such an import restriction is unnecessary because the country already has a content rating system for movies", the Ministry of Finance and Economy said in a statement, adding the similar rating system will be introduced for music albums to protect young people.
Currently, the Korea Media Rating Board, a government agency, must approve the importation of movies and music albums. The Supreme Court recently asked the Constitutional Court to review whether such an approval system violated the Constitution.
The policymakers also agreed to strengthen copyright protection of films and music and to lift restrictions requiring television stations to devote 30 percent of their programming to culture and education.
In addition, the government will provide tax reductions for small- and midsize startups in the entertainment industry and create a guarantee fund to assist those investing in cultural industries.
To promote the environmental service sector, the ministers agreed to introduce a registration system and provide tax incentives for environmental consulting and soil businesses.
The government will push forward its plan to build an industrial complex for environmental venture companies in Pangyo, a new city to be built on the southern outskirts of Seoul.
The participants also discussed the measures to keep the nation's construction industry from cooling down too fast. Plans are to be announced today after a policy coordination meeting with the ruling Uri Party.
By Sim Sung-tae
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