Yoon: "Digital Divide Undermines Human Dignity"... Direction Specified Through Bill of Rights

One Year Ago 'New York Initiative', From Urging to Warning
Concerns Over Digital Divide, Proposal for International Organization Establishment
Government Preparing to Announce 'Digital Bill of Rights'

President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 21st (local time) unveiled the principles of the Digital Bill of Rights, which sets the basic direction for a new digital order. Exactly one year ago, the 'New York Initiative' presented at the same venue, New York University, was based on the importance of a digital order to realize universal values. This time, he concretized it and sent a warning message to the international community. President Yoon's efforts to seize digital leadership culminated in declaring the principles of the 'Bill of Rights' by returning to New York after last year's New York, this year's World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (WEF, Davos Forum), and Paris in June.

Attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Yoon stated at the 'Digital Vision Forum' held at New York University that "If we fail to prevent the spread of fake news caused by the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology, liberal democracy will be threatened, the market economy based on liberal democracy will be endangered, and our future and the lives of future generations will also be at risk."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering the keynote speech at the 'New York Digital Vision Forum' held at New York University on the 21st (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In particular, President Yoon introduced the 'Digital Bill of Rights,' which normativizes the 'New York Initiative.' The basic principles include ▲guaranteeing freedom and rights in the digital environment ▲fair access to digital technology and equal opportunities ▲a safe and trustworthy digital society ▲promotion of digital innovation based on freedom and creativity ▲and the enhancement of human welfare. President Yoon explained, "South Korea's Digital Bill of Rights is a charter containing five major principles for the international community to jointly create the future digital society and will serve as a standard providing direction in the era of deepening digitalization."

President Yoon's message for the 'digital order' has shifted from urging to warning in just one year. This reflects the judgment that the existential risks arising from the digital divide can no longer be ignored. He cautioned, "Voices of concern are growing that the digital divide may undermine human dignity or that the increasing fake news may threaten democracy and freedom."

President Yoon's efforts to seize digital leadership have been concretizing with each overseas trip. Starting with the announcement of the 'New York Initiative' raising the necessity of a digital order one year ago, he expressed concerns at the Davos Forum in January, stating, "In the era of deepening digitalization, the digital divide is becoming a new challenge for us." In June in Paris, he mentioned for the first time the establishment of an 'International Organization for Digital Norms.' It was also then that he proposed strong sanctions against illegal acts violating regulations. In his keynote speech at the UN General Assembly the day before, he presented to the international community the concern that "the digital divide is essentially an economic divide" and warned about 'fake news.'

On this day, President Yoon also announced plans to soon release the Digital Bill of Rights, which contains the results of one year of government discussions on the digital order and experiences in digital innovation. He expressed confidence, saying, "This charter for the international community to jointly create the future digital society will serve as a standard providing direction in the era of deepening digitalization."

At the government level, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the main department, is preparing to announce the 'Digital Bill of Rights' as the basic direction of the new digital order. Although the Bill of Rights itself does not have legal enforceability, since it will be formalized as the government's official principle, related laws and enforcement decrees based on it are highly likely to be revised.

In line with President Yoon and the government's moves, companies are also showing swift actions. Domestic companies have already declared the 'Great Voyage of Super-large AI in the Digital Age' in accordance with President Yoon's initiative. The main points include expanding joint research and investment cooperation, establishing voluntary AI safety measures, and global expansion through open innovation complying with international standards.

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