"Building Reliable 5G is Essential" Korea-US ICT Policy Forum Ahead of Huawei Sanctions

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] Ahead of additional sanctions by the U.S. administration targeting China’s Huawei, the world’s largest telecommunications equipment company, the "Korea-U.S. ICT Policy Forum" was held to discuss "5G network security" and the establishment of a "safe and trustworthy 5G" ecosystem.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 15th that it jointly held the "5th Korea-U.S. ICT Policy Forum" via video conference with the U.S. Department of State on the 10th. At this forum, presentations and discussions were held on five topics including the latest ICT policies of both countries, 5G security, artificial intelligence (AI), international organization cooperation, and private sector issues, chaired by the chief representatives Jeong Hee-kwon, Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Science and ICT, and Steve Anderson, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.

At the meeting, both countries confirmed their shared commitment to establishing policies and regulatory environments that protect privacy, curb division, fraud, and theft, while fostering efficiency, innovation, communication, social diversity, inclusion, and sustainable economic growth.

They also discussed key policy measures to support 5G security, free data flow, public trust in AI, new technologies, innovation, and the digital economy. The Ministry of Science and ICT explained, "Korea and the U.S. discussed 5G network security and recognized the importance of building a safe, resilient, and trustworthy 5G ecosystem."

Both countries agreed to jointly work on enhancing international cooperation through international conferences and forums to strengthen 5G security. They also reached a consensus on the importance of having a common approach to building, deploying, and commercializing 5G networks based on free and fair competition, transparency, and the rule of law.

Additionally, they emphasized the value of research and development cooperation for 5G security enhancement and the importance of transparent and open 5G network architecture in promoting security and supplier diversity.

At this forum, Korea and the U.S. discussed their respective national AI strategies to promote AI innovation and expressed joint support for the OECD AI Recommendations. They also agreed to continue cooperation in the AI field through the OECD and the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI).

Furthermore, they reaffirmed their commitment to jointly support a comprehensive, open, and transparent internet governance system and the continued endorsement of a multi-stakeholder approach. The importance of cooperation with the private sector to expand cross-border data flows through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) was also recognized.

Jeong Hee-kwon, the Korean chief representative and Director of International Cooperation, stated, “The acceleration of digital transformation due to COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of information and communication technology (ICT). In this context, it is meaningful that the two countries discussed ICT cooperation measures, and I hope that the Korea-U.S. ICT Policy Forum will continue to serve as a platform to further solidify the cooperative framework between the two countries.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. delegation, led by Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Steve Anderson, included representatives from the Department of State, Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The current U.S. administration is demanding its allies ban the use of Huawei equipment, citing concerns that Huawei’s 5G equipment could be used for Chinese espionage. The additional sanctions, effective from today, prohibit supplying Huawei with products made using U.S. equipment, software, or design technology without prior approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce, effectively halting transactions with third countries as well.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.