Terms of Service

Chapter 1. General Provisions

Article 1 (Purpose)

These Terms of Service (the “Terms”) are intended to define the rights, obligations, responsibilities, and other necessary matters between KED Global News Network (the “Company”) and users regarding the use of all digital services (the “Services”) provided by the Company.

Article 2 (Definitions)

The definitions of terms used in these Terms are as follows:

1. “Member” refers to an individual who agrees to these Terms, enters into a service use agreement with the Company, and is granted an account (ID).

2. “Non-member” refers to an individual who uses the Services without registering as a Member.

3. “User” refers to any individual who uses the Services provided by the Company, including both Members and Non-members.

4. “Account (ID)” refers to a combination of letters, numbers, or email addresses selected by the Member and approved by the Company for identification and service usage purposes.

5. “Password” refers to a combination of letters, numbers, etc., set by the Member to protect personal information and verify access rights to the Services.

6. “Operator” refers to an individual or organization appointed by the Company to manage and operate the Services.

7. “Affiliate Site” refers to a website or service of a business partner connected through hyperlinks (including text, images, videos, etc.) under a business partnership agreement with the Company for purposes such as joint marketing or collaboration.

8. “Service Agreement” refers to all agreements entered into between the Company and a Member in relation to the use of the Services, including these Terms.

9. “Individual Services” refers to specific services among the Services provided by the Company that require separate registration, agreement, or application procedures.

10. “Paid Services” refers to various online digital content and related services provided by the Company for a fee.

11. “Content” refers to all forms of information (text, images, audio, video, links, files, etc.) that a Member posts, transmits, or shares through the Services.

12. “Service Suspension or Restriction” refers to temporary or permanent limitations or interruptions of all or part of the Services due to public interest, operational needs, or violations of the Terms by the Member.

13. “Membership Withdrawal” refers to the termination of the Service Agreement by a Member, resulting in the loss of Member status.

14. Any terms not defined in these Terms shall be interpreted in accordance with the terms and conditions of individual services, operating policies, relevant laws and regulations, or general commercial practices.

Article 3 (Disclosure, Effectiveness, and Amendment of the Terms)

1. The Company shall post these Terms on the main page or a linked page of the Services in a manner easily accessible by Users. These Terms become effective upon the User’s consent.

2. The Company shall post its business name, office location, representative’s name, business registration number, and contact information (phone number, email address, etc.) on the main page of the Services for easy reference by Users.

3. The Company may amend these Terms to the extent that such amendments do not violate applicable laws including Act on the Regulation of Terms and Conditions, the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. (“Information and Communications Network Act”).

4. If the Company amends these Terms, it shall specify the effective date and reasons for amendment, and provide notice in the manner set forth in Paragraph 1, at least 7 days prior to the effective date. However, if the amendment is unfavorable to Members, the Company shall provide notice at least 30 days in advance.

5. If the Company clearly notifies or informs Members that failure to express disagreement within a specified period will be deemed as acceptance of the revised Terms, and the Member does not explicitly reject the revised Terms, the Member shall be deemed to have accepted the amendments.

6. If a Member does not agree to the application of the revised Terms, the Company shall not apply such Terms to the Member, and the Member may terminate the Service Agreement. If the Company is unable to apply the existing Terms due to special circumstances, it may also terminate the Service Agreement.

7. With regard to Paid Services and Individual Services, the Company may establish separate terms, operating policies, or detailed guidelines (collectively, “Detailed Guidelines”). If such Detailed Guidelines conflict with these Terms, the provisions of the Detailed Guidelines shall prevail for the relevant services.

Article 4 (Governing Laws and Rules Outside the Terms)

1. Any matters not stipulated in these Terms and the interpretation thereof shall be governed by relevant laws such as the Framework Act on Telecommunications, Telecommunications Business Act, Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, Content Industry Promotion Act, and the Act on The Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, etc., as well as general commercial practices.

2. The Company may establish operating policies applicable to specific services and notify Users in accordance with the method described in Article 3, Paragraph 1.

Chapter 2. Service Use Agreement

Article 5 (Formation of Service Agreement)

1. The Service Use Agreement (“Agreement”) is formed when an individual who wishes to use the Services (the “Applicant”) consents to these Terms and the separately announced Privacy Policy by clicking “Agree” or a similar button, completes the membership registration form provided by the Company, and the Company approves the application.

2. In principle, the Company approves the Applicant’s request to use the Services. However, the Company may reject the application or later terminate the Agreement in the following cases:

   1. If the Applicant has previously lost membership status under these Terms (except where re-registration is approved by the Company);

   2. If the Applicant uses a false identity or another person’s name;

   3. If false information is provided or required fields are omitted in the registration form;

   4. If the Applicant is under the age of 14 and does not obtain consent from a legal guardian;

   5. If the application cannot be approved due to the Applicant’s fault or if the application violates any provision of these Terms;

   6. If the application is made with the intent to disrupt public order or social morals;

   7. If the Services are intended to be used for unlawful or profit-seeking purposes;

   8. If the application violates applicable laws or the Company deems it necessary based on reasonable judgment.

3. The Company may withhold approval in the following cases until the cause is resolved:

   1. If there is no available capacity in the service infrastructure;

   2. If there are technical or operational difficulties;

   3. If the Company otherwise deems it difficult to approve the application due to business reasons.

4. The Company may require the Applicant to verify their identity through real-name or identity authentication during the registration process.

Article 6 (Account Management and Security)

1. Members may create an account using the registration methods provided by the Company. Members must provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date information when creating an account.

2. Members are solely responsible for managing their account and password, and must not allow third parties to use, transfer, lend, or provide them as collateral.

3. If a Member becomes aware of any unauthorized use of their account or any security breach, they must immediately notify the Company and follow its instructions. The Company shall not be held liable for any disadvantages caused by failure to notify or comply with such instructions.

4. The Company is not responsible for any damages or losses resulting from account information being leaked, transferred, or lent without the Company’s fault.

5. While the Company strives to ensure the security and stability of its Services, it does not guarantee that all Services are completely free from malware, viruses, or other harmful elements. Members are responsible for establishing and maintaining their own security systems.

Article 7 (Changes to Member Information)

1. Members may view and edit their personal information at any time through the personal information management page. However, certain information such as real name and account (ID) may not be editable for service management purposes.

2. If there are any changes to the information provided at the time of registration, the Member must promptly update such changes online or notify the Company via email or other methods.

3. The Company shall not be held responsible for any disadvantages resulting from the Member’s failure to notify the Company of such changes.

Article 8 (Notifications and Announcements to Members)

1. The Company may substitute individual notices by posting announcements on the Service notice board for at least 7 days in cases where the notice is applicable to all Members.

2. For matters that significantly affect a Member or are specific to an individual, the Company may provide notice via the Member’s registered email address, in-service notifications, or SMS. The Company is not responsible for any disadvantages resulting from the Member’s failure to maintain up-to-date contact information.

Article 9 (Protection and Management of Personal Information)

1. The Company makes efforts to protect Members’ personal information in accordance with applicable laws such as the Personal Information Protection Act.

2. Details regarding the collection, use, provision, protection, and disposal of personal information are governed by the Company’s separately announced “Privacy Policy,” which is posted on the Service homepage or via a linked page for easy access by Members.

3. The Company handles personal information in accordance with applicable laws and the Privacy Policy and shall not be liable for any issues arising from the disclosure of personal information due to the Member’s own fault.

Chapter 3. Obligations of the Contracting Parties

Article 10 (Obligations of the Company)

1. The Company shall make its best efforts to provide continuous and stable Services in accordance with applicable laws and these Terms.

2. The Company shall not disclose or distribute any Member’s personal information to third parties without the Member’s consent, except as required by law or in response to a legitimate request from an investigative authority.

3. In the event of equipment failure or data loss, the Company shall make reasonable efforts to promptly repair or restore the Services unless such failure or loss is due to force majeure, emergency situations, or technical limitations beyond the Company’s control.

4. If a Member submits a legitimate opinion or complaint, the Company shall handle it within a reasonable period. If immediate resolution is not possible, the Company shall notify the Member of the reason and the expected timeline for resolution.

Article 11 (Obligations of the Member)

1. Members shall not engage in any of the following acts:

   1. Providing false information when applying for or modifying membership details;

   2. Using another person’s identity or information;

   3. Altering information posted by the Company;

   4. Transmitting or posting unauthorized information (including software or programs) prohibited by the Company;

   5.  Infringing upon the intellectual property rights, such as copyrights, of the Company or third parties;

   6. Damaging the reputation of or interfering with the business of the Company or third parties;

   7. Posting or disclosing obscene, violent, or otherwise offensive messages, images, sounds, or other content that violates public order and morals;

   8. Using the Services for commercial purposes without the Company’s prior consent;

   9. Collecting, storing, or disclosing another Member’s personal information without authorization;

   10. Engaging in hacking or distributing computer viruses;

   11. Engaging in any acts that disrupt or may disrupt the stable operation of the Services;

   12. Impersonating the Company’s management, employees, or affiliates;

   13. Engaging in any other unlawful, improper acts, or violations of applicable laws, these Terms, or the Company’s policies.

2. Members shall comply with relevant laws, these Terms, usage guidelines, notices published in relation to the Services, and any other instructions issued by the Company, and shall not interfere with the Company’s operations.

3. Members shall not assign, transfer, donate, or provide as collateral their right to use the Services or any status under the Agreement to any third party without the Company’s prior explicit consent.

4. Members shall ensure that any content (including images, text, videos, etc.) posted within the Services does not infringe upon any third party’s portrait rights, copyrights, trademarks, patents, or other related rights. The Member shall bear full responsibility for any disputes arising in connection with such content.

5. If the Company determines that a Member has violated any of the items listed in Paragraph 1 or any other provision of these Terms, the Company may, without prior notice, delete or temporarily restrict access to the relevant content, and may suspend the Member’s access to the Services or terminate the Agreement.

Chapter 4. Provision and Use of Services

Article 12 (Provision and Modification of Services)

1. The Company provides Members with the following Services:

   1. News and other content distribution services;

   2. Bulletin board-type services (e.g., community services);

   3. Search services;

   4. Any additional services developed by the Company or provided through partnership agreements with third parties.

2. The Company may modify all or part of the Services due to operational or technical needs if there is a justifiable reason. In the event of changes to the content, usage method, or hours of availability of the Services, the Company shall post the reasons for the change, the details of the modified Services, and the effective date on the initial screen of the relevant Services in advance.

3. The Company may revise, suspend, or modify all or part of the Services provided free of charge due to operational policies or business needs. Unless otherwise stipulated by relevant laws, the Company shall not provide separate compensation to Members for such changes.

Article 13 (Paid Services)

1. The Services provided by the Company are generally free of charge. However, certain designated information or services are available only upon payment of the fees specified for those Paid Services.

2. Fees, payment methods, and refund policies for Paid Services shall follow the descriptions on the respective service pages or in separate terms and conditions (the “Paid Service Terms”). In the event of a conflict between these Terms and the Paid Service Terms, the Paid Service Terms shall take precedence.

3. When applying to use Paid Services, Members must accurately provide the personal information requested by the Company. The Company shall not be liable for any damages arising from the Member’s submission of false or inaccurate information, unless caused by the Company’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.

4. For subscription-based Paid Services, recurring payments will be charged monthly or according to the agreed cycle unless the Member cancels the subscription.

Article 14 (Withdrawal of Application, Termination, and Refunds for Paid Services)

1. A Member who has entered into a Paid Service agreement with the Company may withdraw from the application or terminate the contract in accordance with applicable laws, including the Act on The Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, etc.

2. The period, method, effect, and exceptions related to withdrawal or cancellation shall follow the relevant laws and the Paid Service Terms.

3. In the event of an erroneous payment, the Company shall refund the full amount using the same method as the original payment. If such refund is not possible, an alternative method specified by the Company may be used.

4. If the erroneous payment was caused by the Company’s fault, the Company shall refund the full amount regardless of any transaction fees or charges. However, if the Member is responsible for the error, the Company may deduct a reasonable processing fee from the refund.

5. The Company shall specify the detailed refund policy on a separate service page or within the Paid Service Terms and shall comply with the stated policy.

Article 15 (Restrictions on Data Collection and Use)

1. Members shall not access the Company’s websites, applications, or servers without authorization, nor monitor, replicate, collect, transmit, or repurpose any content or information included in the Services using robots, crawlers, spiders, scrapers, macro programs, or any other automated or manual processes.

2. If a Member wishes to use any data, content, or information posted or included in the Company’s Services as training data for artificial intelligence (AI), the Member must obtain the Company’s prior explicit written consent.

3. The usage rights granted to Members under these Terms are non-exclusive, non-transferable, and limited to non-commercial, personal use. Any violation of this provision without the Company’s prior written consent may subject the Member to civil and/or criminal liability.

Article 16 (Provision of Information and Display of Advertisements)

1. The Company may provide Members with various information deemed necessary for service use via service notices, email, or other methods. However, Members may opt out of receiving such emails or messages at any time, except for transaction-related information or responses to customer inquiries as required by law.

2. If the Company intends to send information via telephone or fax, prior consent must be obtained from the Member.

3. The Company may post advertisements in the service interface, homepage, emails, or other areas related to the operation of the Services. Members who receive such advertisements via email may opt out of further communications.

4. Users (including both Members and Non-members) shall not alter, modify, or restrict any posts or other information provided by the Company in connection with the Services.

5. The Company shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from a Member’s participation in, communication with, or transactions arising from promotional activities or advertisements displayed in the Services or through the Services.

Article 17 (Management of User Content and Copyright)

1. Copyrights to content posted by a Member within the Services shall remain with the respective author.

2. Content posted by Members may be exposed through search results, within the Services, or related promotional materials. For such exposure, content may be partially modified, reproduced, or edited within the necessary scope. In such cases, the Company shall comply with copyright laws, and Members may request the deletion, exclusion from search results, or restriction of such content at any time via customer service or available management tools.

3. If the Company wishes to use a Member’s content for purposes beyond what is outlined in Paragraph 2, the Company must obtain the Member’s prior consent through telephone, fax, email, or other means.

4. The Company may delete, relocate, or reject the registration of content or materials falling under any of the following categories without prior notice and shall bear no responsibility for such actions:

   1. Content that seriously insults or defames other Members or third parties;

   2. Content that violates public order or decency, or links to such material;

   3. Content that promotes illegal copying or hacking;

   4. Advertisements intended for commercial purposes (except where permitted by the Company);

   5. Content objectively deemed to be related to criminal activity;

   6. Content that infringes the copyrights or other rights of other users or third parties;

   7. Content that violates the posting guidelines set by the Company or is unsuitable for the nature of the forum;

   8. Content that is judged to be in violation of applicable laws and regulations.

5. The rights and responsibilities regarding content posted by Members lie with the respective Member. The Member shall be solely responsible for any issues arising from infringement of another’s intellectual property rights.

Article 18 (Company’s Copyrights and Intellectual Property Rights)

1. Copyrights and other intellectual property rights to works created by the Company and the Services shall belong to the Company.

2. Members shall not reproduce, transmit, publish, distribute, broadcast, or otherwise use for commercial purposes—nor permit any third party to use—any information obtained through the Services for which the Company holds intellectual property rights, without the Company’s prior consent.

3. In relation to the Services, the Company only grants Members a license to use accounts, content, and other assets in accordance with the conditions set by the Company. Members may not assign, sell, provide as collateral, or otherwise dispose of such usage rights.

Article 19 (Service Availability and Suspension)

1. The Services are, in principle, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

2. The Company may temporarily suspend the provision of the Services in the event of maintenance, replacement, or malfunction of computer or communication equipment, disruption of communication, or for other significant operational reasons. In such cases, the Company shall notify Members in accordance with Article 8 (Notifications and Announcements to Members). However, if prior notice is not possible due to unavoidable circumstances, the Company may provide notice afterward.

3. The Company may conduct regular maintenance when necessary for service operation, and the schedule and scope of such maintenance shall be announced via the service screen or notices.

4. In the event of a national emergency, service equipment failure, or a sudden surge in usage that interferes with normal operations, the Company may suspend or restrict service availability.

Chapter 5. Termination of Agreement and Restriction of Use

Article 20 (Termination of Agreement and Restriction of Use)

1. A Member may terminate the Service Agreement at any time by applying for withdrawal via the membership cancellation menu within the Services or by contacting customer service. The Company shall process the termination without delay in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

2. Upon termination, all data related to the Member will be deleted immediately, except in cases where the Company is required to retain certain information under relevant laws or its Privacy Policy. However, content posted by the Member on public bulletin boards may not be deleted, and Members are advised to delete such content themselves before withdrawing.

3. The Company may terminate the Service Agreement or restrict the use of Services for a specified period after giving prior notice if a Member violates Article 11 (Obligations of the Member) of these Terms or commits any of the following acts. In urgent cases, the Company may notify the Member afterward:

   1. Deliberately distributing content that violates public order or decency;

   2. Using the Services with the intent to undermine national interests or public welfare;

   3. Stealing another person’s account or password;

   4. Defaming or causing harm to another person;

   5. Intentionally sending a large volume of data or spam to disrupt the stable operation of the Services;

   6. Distributing computer viruses or programs that cause malfunction or data destruction;

   7. Violating applicable laws, these Terms, or other conditions and policies established by the Company.

4. Notwithstanding Paragraph 3, in the case of legal violations such as identity or payment fraud in violation of the Resident Registration Act, distribution of illegal programs or interference with service operations in violation of the Copyright Act, and unauthorized communication, hacking, distribution of malicious software, or exceeding access rights in violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, the Company may immediately impose a permanent suspension. In such cases, all benefits obtained through service use will be forfeited, and the Company shall not provide any separate compensation.

5. If a Member does not log in for more than 12 consecutive months, the Company may restrict access to the Services or designate the account as dormant to protect user information and improve operational efficiency.

6. Members may file an objection to any usage restrictions imposed under this Article in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Company. If the objection is deemed valid, the Company shall promptly lift the restriction and restore the Member’s access to the Services.

Chapter 6. Liability and Miscellaneous

Article 21 (Compensation for Damages)

1. If a Member violates any provision of these Terms and causes damage to the Company, the Member shall compensate the Company for all damages incurred.

2. If the Company receives any claims, demands, lawsuits, or other forms of dispute from a third party due to a Member’s unlawful act or violation of these Terms, the Member shall indemnify the Company at their own expense and responsibility. If the Company is not indemnified, the Member shall compensate the Company for all damages resulting therefrom.

3. If the Company causes damage to a Member due to willful misconduct or gross negligence, the Company shall compensate the Member to the extent permitted under applicable laws.

Article 22 (Disclaimer)

1. The Company shall not be held liable for failure to provide the Services due to force majeure events such as natural disasters or other circumstances beyond its control.

2. The Company shall not be liable for any disruptions in service use caused by the Member’s own fault.

3. The Company shall not be responsible for the reliability, accuracy, or other aspects of information, data, or content posted by Members in relation to the Services, unless caused by the Company’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.

4. The Company shall not be held liable for any transactions, communications, or disputes that occur between Members or between a Member and a third party through the Services.

5. The Company shall not be liable for any issues arising from the use of services provided free of charge, unless otherwise specified by relevant laws.

6. Financial market data and related services provided by the Company are intended solely for informational purposes and do not constitute investment advice or recommendations. The Company assumes no responsibility for any investment results arising from errors or delays in such information.

Article 23 (Complaint Handling and Dispute Resolution)

1. The Company receives and handles Members’ complaints and feedback through telephone, written documents, email, or the inquiry channel provided within the Services. In particular, the Company addresses complaints related to infringement of rights caused by published articles, requests for corrections, rebuttal articles, and other matters in accordance with relevant laws such as the Act On Press Arbitration And Damage Remedies.

2. The Company and the Member shall endeavor to resolve any disputes amicably. If resolution cannot be reached, either party may apply for mediation or arbitration by the Press Arbitration Commission pursuant to the Act On Press Arbitration And Damage Remedies, or file a lawsuit with a competent court.

Article 24 (Governing Law and Jurisdiction)

1. Any litigation between the Company and the Member shall be governed by the laws of the Republic of Korea.

2. Legal disputes between the Company and a Member shall fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the district court having jurisdiction over the Member’s address at the time of filing. If the Member does not have a known address, jurisdiction shall be based on their place of residence. In cases where the Member’s address or residence is unclear or the Member resides abroad, the matter shall be filed with the court having jurisdiction under the Civil Procedure Act. For Members residing outside of Korea, the Seoul Central District Court may be designated as the competent court.

Article 25 (Prohibition of Assignment)

A Member may not assign, delegate, or offer as collateral any rights or obligations under these Terms, in whole or in part, to any third party without the Company’s prior explicit consent. The Company may, for business needs or in accordance with applicable laws, comprehensively assign or divide its rights and obligations under these Terms to a newly established company. In such cases, the Company shall notify Members in advance.

Article 26 (Severability)

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court or other competent authority, such provision shall be deemed severable from the remainder of the Terms, and the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected.

Article 27 (Entire Agreement)

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between the Company and the Member regarding the use of the Services, and supersede all prior oral or written agreements, representations, and understandings between the parties.

Addendum

Article 1 (Effective Date)

These Terms shall take effect on June 30, 2025.

Article 2 (Supersession of Previous Terms)

These Terms replace all previous terms and conditions that applied prior to their effective date.

These Terms are originally written in Korean and governed by the laws of the Republic of Korea. The English version is provided for reference purposes only. In case of discrepancies between the Korean and English versions, the Korean version shall prevail.