From now on, in order to conduct a business that sends bulk text messages, such as advertisements, you must be certified.

The Korea Communications Commission (Chairman Hong-il Kim) announced that it will fully implement the ‘Bulk Text Message Service Transmission Qualification Certification System’ starting June 1.

The Transmission Qualification Certification System is a system that requires text message resale businesses such as KT, LGU+, SKB, CJ Olive Networks, Daou Technology, Infobank, Standard Networks, SureM, and Gemtech, which provide mass text message transmission services using the Internet, to receive transmission qualification certification from a text message relay business operator before starting their services in order to send advertising text messages.

This is a system to prevent text message resale businesses that are in a legal blind spot, such as the so-called 'Tteotdabang', where the location of the business is unclear and it is difficult to crack down on illegal spam transmission.

In the future, text message resale business operators who wish to start a bulk text message transmission business will be able to operate the text message transmission service after receiving transmission qualification certification, and existing text message resale business operators must also receive transmission qualification certification within 6 months from the date of implementation.

In addition, if it is confirmed that a text message resale business operator who has received transmission qualification certification has sent illegal spam, they will be subject to practical sanctions such as suspension of transmission.

The Korea Communications Commission stated that by operating a private sector-based transmitter qualification certification system, it will reduce phishing and other bait text messages and contribute to preventing crimes against the public that start with malicious text messages.