Korea's drive towards information society has been actively
carried out by the strong will of the government and the Executive. Based
upon its informationization master plan, concentrated investment has been made
to improve information infrastructure.
Korea has built a super high-speed Internet network throughout the 144
provincial cities, 190 provincial towns and 619 sub-county areas for the past 10
years. By 2002, the penetration of broadband service will reach 60%, indicating
the world's highest information infrastructure.
Intensive efforts have also been exerted to enhance digital opportunities for
all, especially for those disadvantaged groups, including housewives, senior
citizens, the disabled, soldiers and prisoners who are prone to be excluded from
knowledge informationization.
Every classroom in all primary and secondary schools in Korea is now connected
to the high-speed Internet by a super high-speed network, thus completing the
basis for education-intensive informationization. For the first time in the
world, free Internet service is available for all teachers and students to help
them make the best use of ICT in education.
The PC chambers distributed through the whole country also contribute to making
the Internet accessible to all, significantly increasing the Internet population
based upon such an infrastructure.
Informationization has made the government more familiar. In January 2001, a
Special Committee on e-Government was established in order to bring forth a
'people-friendly' digital administration.
President Kim, Dae-jung chairs the cabinet meeting himself through virtual
conferencing system, opening the new era of the e-Government. The Korean
government has set up the goal to complete the e-Government project by 2003, and
is currently processing 80% of its administrative affairs through an electronic
endorsement system.
This site was developed for the class,
"Impact of National Information Technology Environments on Business"
at Kogod School of Business, American University, Washington DC
Created by Jung Im Won & Hyun Sang Park
Last updated : December 18, 2002