Enhancing Digital Inclusiveness (KR0060)

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? Guarantees access to information and promotes social participation of the vulnerable by closing the digital divide.

What is the public problem that the commitment will address? Although the spread of intelligent information technology in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era can have a positive impact on all areas of society and the economy, there is also the possibility that a gap in accessibility and utilization related to ever-advancing digital technology may exacerbate social and economic inequality and discrimination. Furthermore, the government is promoting non-face-to-face industries such as online education and digital work to prepare for the post-COVID-19 era, but without digital inclusion, the vulnerable may be left out on both the supply and demand sides. We must prepare for the post-COVID-19 era so that everyone can go beyond simply collecting information to move toward the goal of engaging in economic activity by utilizing digital technologies and improving overall quality of life. It is time for digital utilization policies to bridge the digital divide and realize the vision of an innovative and inclusive nation in the face of digital transformation.

What is the commitment? 1) Enhancing the digital capabilities of the entire nation (Current Situation) Group education on information for the vulnerable such as the elderly, the disabled and multicultural families is being carried out in welfare centers, gu (district)-offices and community service centers but there are limitations in terms of accessibility as such education is mainly provided in facilities for the vulnerable and the actual number of people taking such programs falls far behind the number of people eligible for such programs. Although a considerable proportion of the general public lack the digital capabilities required in an intelligent information society, political interest in this issue was not as strong as it could have been. (Future Plans) First, the Korean government will expand the basis of nationwide offline digital education by utilizing existing residential infrastructure. To be specific, the government will operate 1,000 digital learning centers located in residential infrastructure such as libraries, welfare centers and community service centers targeting certain vulnerable classes such as the elderly, the disabled and multicultural families, and expand such programs to reach anyone lacking digital capabilities. Education will be on basic digital skills required in everyday life such as booking train tickets and banking using smartphones and ways to prevent cyber fraud. 1:1 visits will be made to provide digital education to people with severe disabilities who have impaired mobility or cannot participate in group classes. Second, the government will develop a scale measuring digital skills for anyone who wishes to do so and build an integrated online platform for education catering to different levels and circumstances. 2) Fostering an inclusive digital user environment (Current Situation) The Korean government is improving the broadcasting and communications user environment for rural residents and the disabled by providing nationwide affordable high-speed internet. However, there is still a substantial gap in terms of digital device ownership according to class and income levels. (Future Plans) First, the Korean government will build internet infrastructure that can be enjoyed nationwide and expand public Wi-Fi service to narrow the digital divide between cities and rural areas. It will also expand high-speed internet access by building high-speed internet infrastructure in more than 1,300 rural areas that have relatively weaker internet connectivity. Second, the government will provide support for the vulnerable classes through smart devices and telecommunications cost subsidies needed to ensure minimum digital technology adoption in the digital era. 3) Laying the foundation for digital inclusion (Current Situation) Private digital companies are promoting various digital inclusion activities such as closing the digital divide as part of CSR activities. The government’s active efforts to actively utilize the private sector’s participation and capability in the process of policy making and carrying out projects to alleviate digital inequality are needed. Continued interest and legal and institutional support to close the digital divide are necessary as this remains an inevitable issue as long as technology continues to advance. Therefore, the government’s duty to close the digital divide and establish an implementation system for mid- to long-term policies and projects on digital inclusion needs to be stipulated by law. (Future Plans) The government will form and operate a digital inclusion coalition where both civil society and businesses participate, thereby coming up with relevant policies, improving laws and systems and systematically promoting nationwide campaigns. In addition, the government will promote the enactment of a digital inclusion law which includes the government’s duty to close the digital divide and establish an implementation system for digital inclusion related policies and projects. Furthermore, the government will identify factors in our laws and systems that can result in discrimination and exclusion targeted at the vulnerable with the rapid development of digital technology and preemptively come up with improvement plans.

How will the commitment contribute to solve the public problem? The commitment will prevent deepening inequalities that may arise with digital transformation by promoting policies that reduce the digital divide and enhance the quality of life for the vulnerable by utilizing digital technology.

Exchange and Peer Learning N/A

Additional Information N/A

Milestone Activity with a Verifiable Deliverable Start Date End Date Operate 1,000 digital capability centers each year (e.g. infrastructure education centers) From August 2020 To continue indefinitely Establish integrated platforms for digital skills education 2021 - Newly install Wi-Fi access points in public places (41,000 sites) 2020 2022 Install high-speed internet connectivity in more than 1,300 rural villages 2020 2022 Promote the enactment of the Digital Inclusion Act (final name to be determined) 2020 2021

Action Plan Review

Commitment 10. Enhance digital inclusiveness

● Verifiable: Yes

● Does it have an open government lens? No

● Potential for results: Unclear

Results Report

Commitment 10. Enhance digital inclusiveness

The commitment aimed to reduce the country’s digital divide. To achieve this, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) began operating 1,000 digital capability centers in August 2020, before the action plan period. During the implementation period, the centers facilitated training for nearly two million people. Starting 2021, the MSIT began operating the http://www.k-dcc.or.kr digital learning center platform for digital skills education. To improve infrastructure, the MSIT installed over 58,000 new free public Wi-Fi access points (exceeding the commitment’s target of 41,000) and installed high speed internet in 2,291 rural villages (exceeding the target of 1,300). [73] The MSIT and lawmakers (from both the progressive and conservative parties) developed and promoted a Digital Inclusion Act to sustain and institutionalize digital inclusion as a pan-government policy priority. By the end of 2023, the Digital Inclusion Act was on the agenda for National Assembly review but not yet promulgated. While all milestones were completed, they did not achieve notable open government results as they were not relevant to OGP values.