The nominee for the Korea Media Communications Commission (KMCC) said Tuesday he would consider introducing a ban on teenagers' use of social media platforms to protect underage users from harmful content online. Kim Jong-cheol, a professor at Yonsei Law School who was nominated last month by President Lee Jae Myung to lead the KMCC, made the remark during his parliamentary confirmation hearing. "I believe it is absolutely necessary," Kim said in response to a question on whether Korea should introduce age restrictions similar to those adopted by Australia. "Youth protection is one of the core issues among my key responsibilities, and I am prepared to pursue this task with a strong commitment," he added. The Australian government recently banned teenagers under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, such as Instagram, X and TikTok, citing concerns over the negative impact of social media on young people and their exposure to cyberbullying, online scams and other harmful content. Addressing the risks posed by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the media sector,