Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Science and ICT Discuss 'Science, Technology, and ICT Cooperation Plans' with Diplomatic Corps and International Organization Representatives in Korea

2020 Policy Briefing for the Diplomatic Corps in Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the afternoon of the 10th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science and ICT (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry of Science and ICT) jointly held the ‘2020 Policy Briefing for the Diplomatic Corps in Korea’ by inviting the diplomatic corps in Korea and representatives of international organizations online.

At this briefing, about 100 diplomats from 70 countries among the 113 foreign missions based in Korea attended. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science and ICT had senior officials, including ministers and vice ministers as well as relevant directors, directly present major science and technology and information and communication technology (ICT) policies and exchanged with the diplomatic corps.

This briefing served as an opportunity to identify science and technology-related issues that the international community must address while overcoming current challenges such as COVID-19 and to discuss ways to expand cooperation.

Minister Choi Ki-young of the Ministry of Science and ICT emphasized scientific and technological development and international cooperation for overcoming COVID-19, non-face-to-face services using artificial intelligence and big data, and achieving carbon neutrality goals in his opening remarks.

Minister Choi stated, "International cooperation and the utilization of science, technology, and information and communication technology, as well as cooperation between countries, are essential elements to secure national competitiveness against severe environmental changes such as COVID-19 diagnosis, epidemiological investigations, development of treatments, acceleration of digital transformation including non-face-to-face services after COVID-19, intensified bio-economy competition, infectious diseases, and climate change." He also mentioned the government’s efforts to achieve the 2050 carbon neutrality goal, the Digital New Deal project, and future strategies for science and technology, emphasizing the construction of an international community where everyone prospers through the expansion of science and technology diplomacy.

Lee Tae-ho, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, in his welcoming remarks, stressed that a unified international approach must be established to solve the challenges we face such as the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, climate change, and the spread of infectious diseases, and emphasized close partnerships among diplomats, scientists, and policymakers. He further explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is broadening its scope beyond traditional diplomacy to encompass science and technology diplomacy, and that this event would serve as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation in the field of science and technology diplomacy.

Following this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented its policy direction on science and technology diplomacy, and the Ministry of Science and ICT presented ▲ the Digital New Deal policy direction, ▲ science and technology policy direction, and ▲ COVID-19 response based on science, technology, and ICT.

Jung Ki-yong, Director of the Climate Environment Science Diplomacy Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, introduced changes in the diplomatic paradigm caused by science and technology and the current status of Korea’s science and technology diplomacy, while suggesting ways to solve diplomatic issues in the international community through science and technology and contribute to creating a better society. Heo Sung-wook, Director of Information and Communication Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, shared the Digital New Deal policy direction, including strengthening the D.N.A. ecosystem, digital transformation of educational infrastructure, fostering non-face-to-face industries, and digitalization of social infrastructure as part of efforts to overcome the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 and promote digital innovation across the nation.

He also mentioned that Korea ranked first in the OECD’s recently published Digital Economy Outlook (DEO) report in terms of fiber optic internet access rate, ultra-high-speed internet subscription rate, and wired internet download speed, introducing that Korea has built top-level digital economic infrastructure within the OECD.

Additionally, Kim Sung-soo, Director of the Research and Development Investment Review Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, reviewed changes through science and technology as a certain preparation for an uncertain future amid the great changes caused by COVID-19, and presented proactive innovation directions across all industrial sectors and society as a whole. Jung Hee-kwon, Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Science and ICT, introduced the utilization status of information and communication technology in developing diagnostic kits using artificial intelligence, epidemiological investigation systems, online education, and remote work to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, as well as efforts from various sectors in science and technology and international cooperation for vaccine and treatment development.

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