Regional OTT platforms proposed to counter Seoul's media dominance

A policy forum held in Gwangju has proposed the creation of regional online video service (OTT) platforms as a countermeasure against the media concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area. The forum, organized by the Citizens' Happiness Development Institute, focused on the "Launch of the Integrated Special City of Jeonnam-Gwangju and the Construction of a Future-Oriented OTT Citizen Broadcasting Platform."

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The terrestrial and general programming channels are fueling the concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area... Can regional OTT become an alternative?

Go Jae-kwon, director of the Regional Development Policy Research Institute, highlighted the need for new cultural and economic policies following the integration of Jeonnam and Gwangju provinces. Statistics show that the content industry in the Gwangju region generated 1.48 trillion won in revenue in 2024, a significant increase over the past five years. However, the growth in employment for skilled workers has lagged, indicating a shift towards a more technology-intensive industry structure that struggles to absorb mid-level talent.

Go pointed out that specialized talent trained in public education programs, such as the GCC Academy, are often drawn to large corporations in the Seoul area due to a lack of entry-level positions in the region. To address this, the "Future-Oriented OTT Citizen Broadcasting Platform" was proposed. This model emphasizes citizen participation in content planning, production, and broadcasting, offering a decentralized alternative to the existing terrestrial broadcasting environment.

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Regional media industries are so underdeveloped that there are no content production companies, and most support projects from the Gwangju Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency are won by Seoul companies.

Discussions during the forum revealed both concerns and potential solutions. Yoo Dong-guk, a professor at Donggang University, stressed the need for support for local media small business owners. He noted that many regional media companies lack the resources to produce content, leading to Seoul-based companies winning support projects. He suggested nurturing retired individuals as skilled technicians and engaging young people as content planners for regional OTT platforms.

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We need to consider ways to train retirees as skilled technicians through centers like the Viewer Media Center and spread content created by young planners through YouTube or OTT platforms.

Concerns were also raised about the sustainability of such platforms and the potential for censorship if public funds are involved. Ryu Han-ho, professor emeritus at Gwangju University, emphasized the need for concrete follow-up discussions and planning to realize the vision of transforming the cultural industry in Jeonnam-Gwangju within the next decade.

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We need follow-up discussions with clear goals starting today. To see the Jeonnam-Gwangju cultural industry transformed in 10 years, we must prepare regional OTT and the like starting now.