The Korea Communications Commission said Thursday that it will consider putting a stop to the system that checks Internet users’ private information and also prohibit the collection of resident registration numbers online.

In a briefing on next year’s policies to President Lee Myung-bak, the state media and telecom regulator said it will revise the information and communications network law step-by-step until 2014 to prevent the collection and use of resident registration numbers online.

Beginning next year, websites with more than 10,000 visitors per day will be banned from collecting the personal registration numbers and the measure will be expanded to all websites in 2013. Websites that do not abide by the regulation will be fined starting in 2014, according to KCC officials.

The commission will also take a look into the self-identification system, which has been in place for six years, interpreted as a move gearing toward its abolishment. The self-identification system mandates online users to enter their names and resident registration ID to log into a certain services.

The collection of such private information online was initially introduced in July 2007 to block people from publishing abusive comments and postings on the Internet with their anonymous IDs. However, it has become a controversial topic with many people arguing its inefficiency.

A taskforce will be created with other related government branches for a comprehensive analysis on the issue.

As other parts of next year’s newly-introduced policies, the commission said it will create 10,000 new jobs next year by supporting small and mid-sized venture firms and new growth engines in fields like software, content and applications.

The commission will also support telecoms to offer nationwide coverage of the new upgraded and faster fourth generation Long Term Evolution network services in 2012.

SK Telecom and LG Uplus are already moving to launch the LTE services in many regions across the country and KT Corp. is getting ready to begin the 4G network services next week.

The KCC also reaffirmed its intention to end analog television services for terrestrial broadcasts by the end of next year and introduce digitalized broadcasts in 2013.

In a related effort, it will provide financial support funds for low-income families to purchase digital TVs or lend them analog-to-digital converters for free.

By Cho Ji-hyun (sharon@heraldcorp.com)