"US and Japan More Aggressive After Losing 5G Lead... No Communication Powerhouse Without 6G Preparation" [Tech War, Birth of Advanced Nations]

Interview with Kim Myung-jun, Director of ETRI

South Korea 3-4 Years Behind US and China
Need to Establish a 10-Year Plan for Communication Technology

Rapid Growth Expected in Aerial Mobility Demand
Need for Integrated Satellite Wireless Communication Technology

Kim Myung-jun, President of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), emphasized the need to prepare for the 6G era in an interview with Asia Economy on the 24th. Photo by ETRI

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] "The United States and Japan, which lost the lead to South Korea and China during the 5G era, are now more actively developing core 6G technologies. South Korea must also proactively prepare for technology development to maintain its status as a telecommunications powerhouse in the 6G era."

Kim Myung-jun, president of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), the lead organization for the 6G core technology development project, emphasized a mid- to long-term strategy encompassing the government, academia, and private sectors in an interview with Asia Economy on the 24th. He said, "Preparing for 6G means starting technology development to prepare for 10 years ahead." Although the government, along with private companies such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, has entered the competition for 6G technology standards, there is a sense of crisis that South Korea is 3 to 4 years behind the U.S. and China from the stage of establishing execution plans. Kim suggested focusing on future competitiveness, stating, "What matters much more is how much standard technology is secured at the time when 6G standard technology is completed, not the current moment."

- Why is it necessary to prepare for 6G technology already in the fourth year of 5G commercialization?

△ To lead the next-generation communication technology market, a 10-year plan must be established. For 6G, the vision was established by the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) in 2023, and the initial standard specifications are expected to be completed by 3GPP before 2028, with services possibly starting around 2030. The U.S. and Japan, which lost the 5G leadership to South Korea and China, are actively developing core 6G technologies. South Korea must also prepare proactively to maintain its status as a 'telecommunications powerhouse' in 6G.

- What businesses are expected to grow in the 6G era?

△ Demand for various aerial mobility devices such as flying cars, air taxis, drones, and aircraft up to about 10 km altitude is expected to grow rapidly. To properly utilize aerial routes, the development of related technologies such as 6G mobile communication, autonomous driving, precise positioning, security, and artificial intelligence (AI) is most important. Along with aerial networks by ground base stations, 6G-based 3D spatial mobility and satellite-integrated wireless communication technology using low Earth orbit satellites are also necessary.

- There is already an evaluation that while 5G was first, 6G is a step behind. What is your view?

△ Compared to the U.S. (2017) and China (2018), which set 6G promotion plans and started R&D earlier, South Korea (2021) was somewhat late. However, discussions on 6G standard technology at international standardization organizations will only begin 3 to 4 years from now. Since the definition and scope of 6G standard technology are not yet specified, the ranking of patent holdings can change depending on how patent research institutions classify and include patents within the 6G patent scope.

- How should we act to proactively secure core foundational patents?

△ It is desirable for the government to lead initial 6G research and development (R&D), with private investment linked in the mid-term and beyond. The government must not spare policy support for mid- to long-term investment in 6G technology and for granting and allocating experimental frequencies for research purposes. Academia should focus on securing foundational technologies and training experts through linkage with government or private R&D. The private sector should focus on commercialization promotion and applied technology development while strengthening activities to prepare for global standardization competition.

- What is the meaning and necessity of international standard patent competition?

△ Looking at the nature of the U.S.-China technological hegemony competition, it can be seen as a war to preempt technology standards and standard patents for future core technologies. This allows preemption of future markets, securing technological competitiveness, and obtaining huge royalty income. For international standardization achievements, it is necessary to conduct proactive standardization work linked to future core technology development and to cultivate standard experts. In the 6G field, securing core technology patents first, leading international standardization, and establishing and executing a national standardization promotion strategy through a cooperative system of industry-academia-research standard experts are key to success.