[Sponsored Report] Korea to host UN’s ITU conference this autumn

The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference committee gives a round of applause during the Global ICT Forum for ITU PP-14 at the Lotte Hotel in Jamsil, eastern Seoul, last November. Provided by the company

This year, Korea will host one of the largest global events in the information and communications sector, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (ITU PP-14).

The event, organized by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, will take place at Bexco, Busan, from Oct. 20 to Nov. 7.

ITU is an information and communications technology (ICT) body that was established by the United Nations in 1865. It manages international frequency and satellite orbits and develops technology standards for the ICT sector in order to expand related technologies to global communities.

International policies related to ICT are discussed at ITU, and the agenda for the 2014 conference will likely include intercontinental cooperation on technological development, world issues and telecommunications.

Child protection in online environments, cybersecurity, Internet governance and how to stabilize constitutions are also expected to be discussed.

About 150 ministerial-level officials, 3000 government officials from 193 member countries and 300,000 guests are predicted to attend the quadrennial conference.

Notably, this is the second time for this event to be hosted in an Asian nation. The last ITU conference held in the region was in Japan in 1994.

The fact that Korea has been chosen to host the conference proves that the nation is now considered a leader within the ITU community, Lee Sang-hak, the deputy secretary general of the 2014 organizing committee, told Bexco in an interview.

As well as the ICT Industrial Exhibition and the Global ICT Conference, the Korean Cultural Festival will also take place to attract more guests.

This particular event is expected to make a 771.8 billion won ($660 million) impact on the economy and will boost tourism and promote ICT brands.

In addition, the conference will trigger positive effects in Korea on various levels.

“This year, Korea will take an active stance in suggesting the agenda,” wrote Min Won-ki, the chairman nominee of the conference, in a JoongAng Ilbo column published on Jan. 21.

“With the keen regard of the citizen, this event will definitely enhance Korea’s position in the global ICT sector.”

By Kim Young-shin [yskim11@joongang.co.kr]