Ministry of Science and ICT Holds 'Digital Platform Policy Forum Launch Ceremony'

Park Yoon-kyu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, held the '2023 Digital Platform Policy Forum Launch Ceremony' on the 7th.

The 'Digital Platform Policy Forum' is a joint discussion body composed of industry, academia, and research sectors, established and operated since 2021 to foster the healthy development and innovative environment of digital platforms. Last year, the forum proposed policy directions and tasks for digital platforms through four subcommittees: 1st Subcommittee (Robust Industrial Ecosystem), 2nd Subcommittee (Fair Growth System), 3rd Subcommittee (Social Value Creation), and 4th Subcommittee (Healthy User Environment).

This year, Lee Won-woo, Executive Vice President for Planning at Seoul National University, continues to serve as the chairperson, leading the forum's discussions. Recently, technological changes and issues surrounding platforms, such as the use of large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) and controversies over algorithmic fairness, have been continuously emerging. The forum plans to be reorganized and operated to provide advisory roles on laws, systems, and policies based on in-depth understanding and analysis of the platform market.

Experts from various fields will form the 'Platform Economy Advisory Committee' to select core platform agendas and conduct related research. The forum will continuously monitor domestic and international platform issues and policy trends and perform advisory functions on platform policies. Additionally, the 'Platform Field Advisory Group,' composed of platform industry representatives and stakeholders (consumers, merchants, etc.) and related associations, will convey field opinions and difficulties regarding core agenda research and other matters.

At the launch ceremony, the main contents of the amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act, prepared to support platform self-regulation, were presented and opinions were collected in the presence of the forum’s Platform Economy Advisory Committee members and the Field Advisory Group.

The Ministry of Science and ICT has been discussing the amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act since July last year by forming the 'Digital Platform Self-Regulatory Organization Legal and Institutional Task Force (TF)' with major industry players and experts to support effective platform self-regulation.

The amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act stipulates the establishment basis of platform self-regulatory organizations, government support including encouragement policies, incentives for participation in self-regulation, and transparency of self-regulatory activities. First, it provides a legal basis for the platform industry to conduct self-regulatory activities either independently or through separate self-regulatory organizations to create a sound trading environment, promote innovation, protect users, and foster win-win cooperation.

The government will establish policies to encourage and expand self-regulatory activities and provide financial and administrative support to business associations that meet certain requirements such as representativeness, expertise, and objectivity for their self-regulatory activities. Furthermore, to enhance incentives for participation in self-regulation, the Ministry of Science and ICT will consider the industry's efforts and achievements in self-regulation and regularly guarantee opportunities for experts and stakeholders to express their opinions related to self-regulatory activities, ensuring transparency in these activities. The Ministry plans to support the prompt amendment of the Telecommunications Business Act by collecting opinions from various sectors and related ministries raised during the meeting.

Vice Minister Park Yoon-kyu stated, "An objective and in-depth understanding of the platform market must be a prerequisite when promoting platform policies and systems," adding, "The Ministry of Science and ICT will also promptly establish the legal basis for platform self-regulation and actively support the achievement of effective self-regulatory outcomes."

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