"Guaranteeing the Right to Communication" ... Seoul City to Force Public Wi-Fi Service Next Month

Ministry of Science and ICT Warns of Legal Action for "Legal Violations" Yet Projects Proceed in 5 Districts
Bridging the Digital Divide and Ensuring Basic Communication Rights ... Expansion to All Areas by 2022

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Ministry of Science and ICT has announced legal action, including criminal charges, against the project to make the entire Seoul metropolitan area a free 'Wi-Fi zone,' citing violations of laws and regulations. However, Seoul City has decided to proceed with a pilot project starting next week. This decision is based on the judgment that the project to address digital exclusion cannot be delayed amid the accelerated transition to a digital and contactless society following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lee Won-mok, Seoul City's Smart City Policy Officer, stated on the 27th, "There is no reason to stop the public Wi-Fi project that guarantees citizens' basic communication rights and alleviates the burden of communication costs as well as digital information exclusion and disparity," adding, "We will continue discussions with the Ministry of Science and ICT, but the project will proceed as planned."

Seoul City announced the day before that it will establish a public Wi-Fi service called 'Kkachion,' which allows free Wi-Fi access throughout public living areas such as roads with four or more lanes, parks, traditional markets, and bus stops by 2022. This covers about 11% of Seoul's total area, including green spaces and rivers. Residential areas and private buildings are excluded. The service will use the latest 'Wi-Fi 6' equipment, which is four times faster and has enhanced security compared to existing public Wi-Fi.

Starting next month on the 1st, pilot services will begin in five districts?Seongdong-gu and Guro-gu first, followed by Eunpyeong-gu, Gangseo-gu, and Dobong-gu by mid-November. The pilot project budget for these five districts is approximately 15.4 billion KRW. Citizens can simply turn on their smartphone Wi-Fi function and select 'SEOUL' to automatically connect to the internet anywhere equipped with Kkachion while staying in these areas.

By 2022, Seoul plans to lay a total of 5,954 km of its own ultra-high-speed public self-owned communication network across the city and, based on this, build 11,030 Kkachion units and 1,000 public IoT networks as part of the 'Smart Seoul Network (S-Net)' project. By utilizing its own network instead of leasing lines from mobile carriers, the city expects to reduce communication costs.

The city also plans to install indoor public Wi-Fi in welfare facilities and local community centers frequently used by information-vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, separately from public living areas, to reduce the information gap.

The Ministry of Science and ICT understands the purpose of enhancing communication welfare but points out that Seoul City must proceed with the project within the legal framework. The current Telecommunications Business Act distinguishes the roles of the government and private operators in providing communication services and restricts direct services by local governments and the government. Accordingly, the ministry is considering issuing a suspension order to Seoul City, imposing fines of up to 1 billion KRW or penalties of up to 50 million KRW, and even criminal charges against responsible officials.

A Ministry of Science and ICT official said, "Despite being aware of the illegality repeatedly pointed out and discussed, Seoul City is proceeding, so we will respond legally, including criminal charges. However, we will continue discussions with Seoul City at the consultative body level."

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