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In a first step toward more trouble-free connectivity, spammers will from March 31 have to ask nicely if they want to send promotional material or make sales calls to a cell phone, fixed-line phone or fax.
Some marketers will be required to get recipients’ consent in advance if they make promotional calls by dialing the prefix 060, which typically carries sexual content, and mobile marketing of cards, loans or realty transactions. Failure to do so carries a fine of up to W30 million (US$30,000)
The Ministry of Information and Communication said Tuesday the new regulation banning unwanted promotional messages will go into effect on Thursday and vowed to crack down on violators in cooperation with the police and prosecution.
Marketers will not be able to telephone their targets to get their consent. Instead, they have to use emails, surface mail and websites in a way that does not annoy recipients. Even if they get consent in advance, marketers must obtain an additional endorsement for mobile messages at night between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Unlawful spam messages or phone calls can be reported to the ministry's anti-spam center at 02-1336 or at www.spamcop.or.kr.
However, the ministry said legal promotional activities like telemarketing would remain allowed under the Call Sales Law and the Electronic Marketing Law. Mass-mailers can send spam emails without recipients’ consent as they do now if they identify them clearly as advertising in the subject line.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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