[The Editors' Verdict] Will the Intelligent Information Society Remain Just a Slogan?

The European Parliament's 2019 report, "Global Trends 2030," outlined seven mega trends that will significantly impact the future of the global community by 2030. While some familiar topics like climate change were included, the report also introduced unfamiliar concepts. One such forecast is that the world order will shift from "multipolarity" to "poly-nodality." In the poly-nodality era, competition based on military or economic power, as seen today, will no longer be crucial. Instead of groups centered around a few powerful nations, the competitiveness will depend on how well participants in the socio-economic ecosystem are connected as nodes within networks. This means that the key players determining future competitiveness will expand beyond nations to include corporations, civic organizations, and individuals.

Several years have passed since the term "Fourth Industrial Revolution" first appeared in Korean news, and it is no longer as frequently mentioned as before. However, regardless of the context or purpose behind its mention in domestic politics, the impact of this term on the transformation of Korea’s socio-economic system is significant enough that it cannot be dismissed as a mere slogan.

The so-called "Intelligence Revolution," known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, has brought about a new social paradigm, the so-called intelligent information society. According to Article 12, Clause 6 of the "Basic Act on Intelligent Informatization," enacted at the end of last year, the intelligent information society refers to a society that creates value and drives development in all fields?industry, economy, society, culture, and administration?through intelligent informatization. Article 2, Clause 5 of the same law defines intelligent informatization as enabling or enhancing activities in various social sectors by applying or integrating intelligent information technology or other technologies based on the production, distribution, or utilization of information.

According to this definition, the intelligent information society is one in which highly advanced intelligent information technology acts not merely as an object but as a medium through which humans engage in all intellectual activities and interactions. Through intelligent information technology, all participants in the social ecosystem are closely connected and make decisions based on these connections. Notably, the scope of these connections is not limited by physical or geographical boundaries. Therefore, the intelligent information society closely resembles the poly-nodality competitive structure forecasted by the European Parliament.

This raises the question of how to promote the establishment of a poly-nodality structure. According to the European Parliament, the answer to this question will have a profound impact on a nation's future competitiveness. While various answers may be proposed, one of the most important aspects is how to enhance the social acceptance of intelligent information technology and control its dysfunctions. The process of introducing and spreading intelligent information technology carries risks to individuals, such as decision-making bias and infringement of freedom, as well as risks to the social community, including market and political stability. It is necessary to clearly identify these risks and seek social capabilities and legal and institutional frameworks to control them.

What is crucial here is that Korea must move away from the top-down industrialization model, which proved effective through rapid growth since the 1960s. It is hoped that Korea will succeed in transitioning to a poly-nodality socio-economic system based on intelligent information technology and thereby enhance its national competitiveness once again.

Shin Minsu, Professor, Department of Business Administration, Hanyang University