More IT innovation coming, Roh says

BUSAN ― The Korean government will continuously expand its information infrastructure, and will replace high-speed Internet service with the Broadband Convergence Network, President Roh Moo-hyun said yesterday at the opening ceremony of the ITU Telecom Asia 2004. Broadband Convergence Network is a network service that provides data transmission at much faster speeds than high-speed Internet, enabling higher quality broadcasting, video on demand and voice telephony. About 1,500 persons, including Information Minister Chin Dae-je, ITU Secretary-General Yoshio Utsumi and information technology officials, attended the event, held yesterday afternoon at the Busan Exhibition & Convention Center. The forum and exhibition sessions formally begin today. “Although Korea is one of the fastest-developed countries in terms of information orientation, there are still many new things that are left to be done,” Mr. Roh said. “Now is the age of the intellectual information revolution that will be led by knowledge, information and cultural creativity.” Mr. Roh emphasized that Korea hopes to share its information and achievements with other countries in Asia and actively contribute to the development of international information communications in the future. He said new growth engines, such as next-generation mobile communications and digital televisions, are under development, and the government is concentrating on attracting investment from top-ranking companies worldwide to realize its plan of making Korea the information technology hub of Northeast Asia. “Your presence in Korea confirms our efforts and I hope that this venue will serve as an opportunity for more collaboration,” Mr. Roh said. by Wohn Dong-hee, Yoon Chang-hee