The Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI) held 'Connectivity & Creativity Forum: Smart Ecosystem and ICT Governance', in an effort to analyze the current status of ICT in Korea and ICT governance in Smart ecosystem, on August 29 at the conference hall of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium business (KBiz).

The forum started with the congratulatory remarks by EunHui Kwon, a member of the National Assembly and was followed by presentations 'Smart Ecosystem and ICT Policy Direction' and 'ICT Governance in Smart Ecosystem' made by Dr. GaeIyong Choi, Executive Director at KISDI and Prof. HuiJun Song of Ewha Womans University respectively.

Dr. GaeIyong Choi of KISDI said that the convergence between content (C), platform (P), network (N), and device (D) is accelerating with the development of computing and Internet's evolution, and, as a result, platform competition is intensifying around the world to expand the clout on the Internet but ICT in Korea is not well prepared for the trend. He presented, as a response to a paradigm shift in ICT, mid-to-long term policy tasks in eight areas: ① ICT industry promotion, ② job creation through ICT, ③ re-establishment of regulations in information society, ④ communications policy in new ICT paradigm, ⑤ ICT infrastructure, ⑥ broadcasting-media regulation, ⑦ promotion of content development, and ⑧ security.

Prof. HuiJun Song of Ewha Womans University said in his presentation 'ICT Governance in Smart Ecosystem' that ICT governance, which promotes ICT-based national innovations, new industries and job creation, should be established. The top priority, he added, for the next government is to enhance the competitiveness of ICT industry by connecting C-P-N-D and to create decent jobs by promoting ICT-based innovations across the entire society. The convergence of smart information technologies is leading a paradigm shift in the economy and society beyond its technological innovations. He also suggested the establishment of the Ministry of IT Media Innovation (tentative) in charge of providing integrated supports for ICT ecosystem since the current fragmented ICT policy system, which consists of four ministries, is not capable of improving ecosystem competitiveness in Smart era.

The Ministry of IT Media Innovation, according to his presentation, is in charge of with dealing with the issues related to digital content, SW, Internet, network, ICT device, informatization, security, newspaper, publishing, game, animation, film, music and other media content industries, and copy rights protection, R&D, and HR. A semi-independent commission of the Ministry appoints board members of public broadcasting agencies and mediates conflicts between service providers.

In a panel discussion session moderated by Prof. JinWoo Park, Chairman of Connectivity and Creativity Forum, various views and ideas were shared by panelists: Prof. HuiJun Song of Ewha Womans University, Prof. HaeRyong Song of Sungkyunkwan University, Prof. SeokMin Yoon of Seoul National University, Prof. JongIn Im of Korea University, Prof. ChungSik Jung of Kyungsung University, President TaeYeol Yoo of DIGIECO, and Mikyoung Seo, a member of the National Assembly.

The third meeting of Connectivity and Creativity Forum provided a timely opportunity to discuss mid-to-long term policy direction for ICT industry in smart environments and necessary ICT governance. The Forum is expected to pave the way for ICT development based on connectivity and creativity.

Contact: Executive Director GaeIyong Choi of Convergence and Future Research Division (Tel. 02-570-4321)