Korea Leads International Agenda Setting for ICT Research and Development

Election to Two Key Positions in the International Telecommunication Union at the World Telecommunication Development Conference

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] South Korea will take the lead in setting the agenda for international ITC research and development and measures to bridge the information gap.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 17th that South Korea was elected to key positions responsible for setting the research agenda at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-22), held in Kigali, Rwanda, from the 8th to the 16th.

Kosangwon, Head of the International Cooperation Research Division at the Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI), was appointed Vice Chair of ITU-D Study Group 1 (SG1), and Jeon Seonmin, Associate Research Fellow, was appointed Vice Chair of Study Group 2 (SG2). ITU Development Sector (ITU-D) SG1 and SG2 serve as forums for research and discussion on strengthening ICT connectivity and digital transformation policies and regulations to promote the development of the ICT sector in developing countries and to bridge the global information gap. Head Kosangwon was re-elected following the previous term, and Associate Research Fellow Jeon advanced to Vice Chair after serving as SG1 rapporteur. The term for Vice Chair is four years, during which they operate various meetings of the study group alongside the Chair and prepare the final report to be submitted to the next WTDC.

The Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "South Korea is expected to continuously strengthen its global policy leadership in the ICT sector by actively participating in discussions on ICT development and bridging the global information gap, sharing Korea’s best practices and policy experiences." It added, "Although South Korea has been continuously active in ITU-D, this is the first time it has held two chair positions, enabling it to take a leading role in ITU-D’s core activities and enhance its influence."

It further stated, "Through four years of activities, it is expected that Korea, as an advanced ICT country, will more actively disseminate its success stories and policies to developing countries, thereby enhancing the national image and strengthening leadership in the development cooperation sector."