Korea: Korea Information Infrastructure

In Korea, the Government has launched the Korea Information Infrastructure (KII). KII movement arose from an established desire to exploit information technology and a fear that a failure to build an information infrastructure would hurt Korea’s basic industries to the point that they might not be able to compete in the global marketplace, leaving the nation farther behind the developed countries. This concern extended to production industries such as computers, telecommunications, components and semiconductors, with a subsequent loss of export and import substitution opportunities. In addition, there was a concern that the consumer service industries would not be able to gain quick access to the latest technologies and would become less competitive (Jeong and King, 1997).

The Korean Government has outlined the following reasons for implementing the KII plans: to enhance the ITPDI; to stimulate informatisation of both the public and private sector; to foster Korean information and telecommunication industry; to maintain the sustainable economic growth and to create job opportunity; to promote the citizens’ use of, and access to, various types of information services; and to raise the level of living conditions (KIITF, 1995).

According to the Comprehensive Implementation Plan for the KII (1996), the KII has four major objectives.

1. To expand the national telecommunication infrastructure, it constructs two high-speed information networks capable of transporting voice, data and image information: the New Korea Net-Government (NKN-G) will be established by 2010; and the New Korea Net-Public (NKN-P) by 2015.

2. The government develops various applications which are provided over the information networks, with its emphasis on the 10 Special Programmes for promoting informatisation.

3. It will realise universal information services across the country, so as not only to increase the overall efficiency of the economy and society but also to improve the quality of citizen’s life.

4. It promotes the growth of the multimedia and information industries which will be able to contribute to the job creation and to the strengthening of the international competitiveness of Korean industry.

The KII is to be implemented according to the following six generic strategies (KIITF, 1995). The private sector is to take initiatives for implementing the KII, including funding. In particular, such programmes as the construction of NKN-P, pilot projects, expansion of the undersea cable networks, the satellite projects and the development of technologies and applications require strong participation from the private sectors. Secondly, the Government will reform the laws, regulations and social systems, and will conduct various pilot projects, in order to induce participation in the KII from the private sectors, to increase the public awareness on the KII and to promote the use of advanced information networks. Thirdly, the existing facilities owned by the telecommunications companies will be fully utilised to minimise costs, and the NKN-G and -P will be enhanced stage by stage, according to the level of information and technological developments. Fourthly, the KII will be established by effectively exploiting wireless and satellite communication technologies as well as wire and optic fibre cables, with emphasis on the inter-connectivity and inter-operability between these different systems.

Fifthly, the Government will promote a well-balanced development across different regions and social classes, and seek to ensure universal access to the networks and unrestricted use of the services. Finally, since the KII is long-term programme, the KII plans will be revised and readjusted every year in line with the changes in circumstances.

As with most ITPDI initiatives, the KII initiative is facing a variety of issues and challenges. Kim (1996) has identified six specific issues:

• The restructuring of the organisational system for the KII: The issue is concern on the ineffectiveness and inefficiency of the present driving system for the KII.

• The necessity for a new infrastructure composed of optical fibre cables:

This is an issue on the uncertainties of the future networks and information requirement for the KII. Among the major issue is the lack of systematic analysis of the investment requirements for the KII.

• The promotion of investment by the private sector in the KII: The major issue here is the lack of public discussion on the participation of the private sector in the KII initiative. As a result, the private sector took a longer time to understand the details of the KII. A more serious problem is that the private companies do not know well what projects they can participate in.

• The realisation of the information society for all citizens through equitable distribution of the opportunity for education and training: The issue is about how to ensure universal assess to the new infrastructure.

• The promotion of the use of new infrastructure: The key issue under this aspect is the lack of focus on the demand side in implementing the KII.

The development of KII was initiated by the Government, not by the

users’ demand, and as a result Korean users have little opportunity to represent their opinion at the planning stage.

• Reflection on the government roles: The issue here is on the need of some readjustment of the Governments role. Although the Korean Government stresses that it took a catalytic and supporting role in establishing the KII, the KII is actually led by the Government.