Minister unleashes plan to boost technology’s role

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Minister unleashes plan to boost technology’s role

The government says it will act aggressively to accelerate the integration of information and communications technology into people’s daily lives through areas such as safety, disaster response and health care.

The plan was confirmed yesterday at the kickoff meeting of the IT Strategy Commission, organized by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning and headed by the prime minister. It includes researchers, private companies and economic experts.

It is part of the government’s investment of 1.4 trillion won ($1.4 billion) over three years in an ICT technology development policy package that includes supporting the software industry and commercializing the superfast 5G network, Internet of Things and ultra high-definition broadcasting.

“The public and private sectors have to cooperate through the IT Strategy Commission,” said Choi Mun-kee, the science minister. “The commission aims to resolve urgent problems - low growth, job creation, low fertility, the aging society and reunification with the North - that our society is facing and to accelerate economic growth.”

The plan will speed the spread of automated safety and disaster-response systems, enabled by integration with various ICT technologies. The commission also will push construction of an integrated cyber system that collects and analyzes weather and natural-disaster data.

The Science and Defense ministries will launch a medical service this year for soldiers serving in remote areas. It will be a pilot project leading to one-on-one video medical consultations based on data collected through wearable and mobile smart devices.

In a bid to accelerate full implementation, the Science Ministry invited officials from Ministry of Health and Welfare to help explore potential areas of legal concern.

By kim ji-yoon [jiyoon.kim@joongang.co.kr]


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