Seoul: The Cabinet has approved a revised communication law to impose fines of up to 6 percent of relevant sales on illegal spam senders, as well as on mobile carriers that fail to properly prevent them, the media watchdog announced.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the revision to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection will additionally confiscate proceeds from illegal activities on top of such fines, as stated by the Korea Media Communications Commission (KMCC). The revision was prompted by criticism that the previous regulation, which imposed fines of up to 30 million won (US$19,000) on spam senders, was insufficient compared to the gains from such illegal activities.

The new fines will also apply to mobile carriers that have failed to properly prevent such activities. The KMCC announced plans to draft a relevant enforcement decree and consult with experts to set a detailed scope for imposing fines.

"The revision is expected to ease public inconvenience caused by illegal spam messages and prevent potential damage," KMCC Chair Kim Jong-cheol stated in a release. Kim added that the government will continue efforts to create a safe, free, and vibrant digital service environment.