Seoul, Korea - The United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) emphasized their commitment to further cooperation to enhance the digital economy during the fourth meeting of the U.S.-ROK Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy Forum in Seoul, on June 22, 2018.
During the one-day forum, government, industry, and non-governmental organization representatives reached a broad consensus on issues such as promoting U.S.-ROK ICT policy coordination on topics that are critical to further advancing the two countries’ digital economies and pursuing measures that reduce impediments to innovation and encourage the growth of the ICT industry.
In this dialogue, which included sessions with private sector representatives, both countries affirmed their joint commitment to policy and regulatory environments that foster efficiency, innovation, communication, social diversity, inclusiveness and sustainable economic growth, while respecting privacy and guarding against disruption, fraud, and theft. Participants discussed policy approaches critical to supporting innovation, the free flow of data, emerging technologies, and growth in the digital economy.
The United States and the ROK reaffirmed their joint support of an inclusive, open, and transparent system of Internet governance and continued support for the multi-stakeholder approach. Government officials from the two sides discussed objectives and shared information on their respective activities related to upcoming international meetings and organizations such as in the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), G20, and OECD.
In addition, the two sides recognized the importance of engaging with the private sector in enhancing cybersecurity, promoting cross-border data flows through the APEC Cross Border Privacy Rules system, and improving the standards for personal data protection, as a way to promote innovation, development of emerging technologies and growth of the digital economy.
The United States and the ROK shared respective policy perspectives on how best to expedite the process of the commercialization of 5G next-generation mobile communication technologies and to foster utilization of artificial intelligence referred to as the core technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution era. The two sides affirmed to work together to share information on the status of technologies and projects of the private sector and enable emerging technologies to bring benefits to people and businesses of the two countries as well as the global economy.
The 4th U.S.-Republic of Korea ICT Policy Forum was hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Robert Strayer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy led the U.S. delegation, which included officials representing the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and leading U.S. ICT businesses. Deputy Minister Hwan Jung Yang of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), led the ROK delegation, which included officials representing MSIT, Korea Communications Commission (KCC), National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA), Korea Internet Security Agency (KISA) and leading Korean ICT businesses.
The United States and the Republic of Korea plan to hold the 5th U.S.-Republic of Korea ICT Policy Forum in Washington, DC in 2019.
