Jung Sye-kyun: "Data Economy Led by Private Sector"... Launch of National Self-Health Management App

4th Industrial Revolution Committee Holds 21st Plenary Meeting
Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun Chairs Meeting: "Government Only Establishes Institutional Foundation"
Private Chairman Yoon Seong-ro: "Next 5 Years a Major Turning Point for Digital Transformation"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] 'The country that uses data most safely and effectively'

The 4th Industrial Revolution Committee is drawing a blueprint for building a data economy as a 'public-private joint data control tower.' The role has been strengthened from a private-sector single chairman-led system to a control tower including the Prime Minister. The 4th Industrial Revolution Committee, responsible for coordinating differences between government ministries, has also been empowered. Starting this month, a 'self-health management' application (app) that allows citizens to view their own health records will be launched. The introduction of a 'Chief Data Officer' system for each administrative agency to increase the utilization of public data will also be expedited.

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun: "The basic principle is private sector leadership"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Presidential 4th Industrial Revolution Committee held its 21st plenary meeting on the afternoon of the 17th and deliberated and approved the 'Korea Data 119 Project,' which outlines the national data policy direction. The 'practical measures to realize the prior consent system for personal information' and 'introduction plan for personal information portability system,' agreed upon at the 9th Hackathon, were also discussed.

The Korea Data 119 Project consists of 11 long-term action tasks and 9 short-term services. It focuses on governance centered on companies and markets rather than individual policies for supplier convenience.

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun emphasized, "The basic principle for Korea to lead the data economy is that the private sector leads, and the government establishes an institutional foundation to allow the private sector to operate freely." He added, "We will actively open public data and establish a foundation to promote the use of pseudonymous information to facilitate data combination, opening the way for data trading and distribution, and seek harmonious development of data utilization and protection to foster a people-centered data economy even in the digital age."

Yoon Sung-ro, private member of the 4th Industrial Revolution Committee, said, "The 4th Industrial Revolution Committee has taken on the important role of integrated data governance, and as a private-sector chairman, I feel a heavy responsibility." He added, "The next five years will be a major turning point for the digital transformation, a critical period when technological advancements will become a reality." He also said, "Unlike in the past, Korea is starting from almost the same starting line as advanced countries, but our future will be determined by how we utilize data and AI." He urged, "Among the tasks announced today, there is hardly any that a single ministry can solve alone. I hope the key tasks proposed by the private sector will not be a one-time effort but will produce results on the ground."

Establishment of Data Officers for Each Agency

The 4th Industrial Revolution Committee plans to discover private-sector-led data tasks centered on the newly established Data Special Committee within the organization as of the 5th. The special committee consists of 50 members, including 26 from the private sector and 24 from government and public sectors.

The 11 long-term action tasks include ▲providing unopened core data ▲securing data quality at the level desired by demanders ▲utilizing private specialized companies and supporting data purchases ▲linking data platforms and revitalizing exchanges ▲comprehensive reform of the national data management system ▲redesigning government work centered on data ▲early establishment of new data utilization systems ▲proactive response to risks across the data ecosystem ▲building a data-based scientific disaster management system ▲COVID-19 time capsule project ▲establishing an integrated water management data system.

As part of the national data management system reform, a Chief Data Officer (CDO) will also be established. The CDO is responsible for the overall strategy of data collection, management, analysis, and utilization, creating value from data. The operational basis was established last December through the Act on the Promotion of Data-Based Administration. It will be implemented at the government-wide level by April and later expanded to include central administrative agencies such as cities and provinces.

Changes that citizens can immediately feel will also be attempted. The 9 short-term tangible services include ▲'My Health Record' app for checking personal health records ▲automatic claim for actual expense insurance ▲improvement of personal consumption activities based on order history ▲detection of illegal counterfeit products ▲continuous meal support for food-insecure children ▲AI-based customized learning support to close learning gaps ▲AI Hunminjeongeum ▲K-Image Project ▲smart ports.

Among these, the My Health Record app is a 'self-health management' application created through collaboration among the Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Health Insurance Service, Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The app was demonstrated at the plenary meeting and is scheduled to be released this month.

Practical measures to realize the prior consent system for personal information were also discussed. The consent system will be restructured to be easy to understand and convenient from the citizen's perspective, introducing visual aids. It will be displayed in three stages (excellent, average, insufficient) like a traffic light, and complex personal information or retention periods will be labeled and posted.

Legal processing standards other than consent will also be established. Personal information essential for concluding and fulfilling service contracts can be collected and used without consent, revising the excessive reliance on prior consent. The appropriateness and implementation of personal information processing policies will be conducted either ex officio or upon request by consumer organizations.

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