KT CEO Koo Hyun-mo: "Let's Build a Global Infectious Disease Response System Based on ICT"

Proposal to Establish an 'Infectious Disease Management Working Group' at the Broadband Commission Regular Meeting

Koo Hyun-mo, CEO of KT [Photo by KT]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] KT announced on the 20th that CEO Koo Hyun-mo proposed the establishment of an ICT-based global infectious disease joint response system at the Broadband Commission regular meeting.

The Broadband Commission is an international telecommunications commission led by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and UNESCO, aiming for digital development and the spread of high-speed internet.

The commission includes 58 members worldwide, such as the Secretaries-General of ITU and UNESCO, heads of state and key officials from various countries, international organization representatives, and executives from global companies like Facebook, Microsoft, Nokia, and Ericsson.

From South Korea, CEO Koo participated as a newly appointed member in this regular meeting held via video conference on the 18th to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). He was appointed as a member in May, with a two-year term.

As a new member, CEO Koo expressed his determination and emphasized the importance of network coverage and ICT utilization during the COVID-19 situation. He also explained the role of ICT in overcoming COVID-19 in Korea.

CEO Koo stated, "It is necessary to use ICT to quickly identify and block sources of infection," and proposed, "Let us establish an infectious disease management working group within the Broadband Commission to build a global infectious disease joint response system."

The infectious disease management working group will focus on responding to COVID-19, analyze each country's response cases using ICT, and based on these results, present specific directions for a global infectious disease joint response system.

In 2018, KT led the infectious disease preparedness working group within the Broadband Commission and published reports on various infectious disease cases worldwide.

CEO Koo said, "Through the establishment of the working group proposed at this meeting, we will draw international community participation in the ICT-based global project to prevent the spread of infectious diseases," and added, "We will promote collaboration with stakeholders worldwide and contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals."