■Event: 2022 Digital Platform Policy Forum Briefing Conference

■ Date: December 27, 2022(Tuesday) 14:00~17:00

■ Venue: Ferrum Hall (3rd Floor), Ferrum Tower

On December 27, KISDI hosted the ‘Digital Platform Policy Forum Briefing Conference’ at the Ferrum Tower in Jung-gu District of Seoul.

The Ministry of Science and ICT formed the ‘Digital Platform Policy Forum’ in 2020 as a joint discussion body composed of representatives from industry and academia to generate ideas about developing the platform ecosystem in ways that will make it stronger. In February of this year, the forum created four modules to discuss the following four issues: a robust industrial ecosystem; policies for developing an ecosystem characterized by innovation and fairness; the enhancement of social value; and balanced data utilization and protection. Under the stewardship of Park Yoon-gyu, the government chairperson and Second Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, and Professor Lee Won-woo of Seoul National University’s School of Law, some forty experts met more than fifty times over a period of ten months to discuss the aforementioned issues.

Especially for this year’s conference, the composition of the participants was diversified in order to materialize the five major policy directions for digital platforms identified at last year’s briefing conference. This year’s conference also sought to invite multifaceted discussions about all aspects of the platform by forming working groups and adopting an agenda-driven discussion format.

※ Five key policy directions: ① establishment of policies designed to promote platforms, ② establishment of a leading regulatory model centered on self-regulation, ③ safe utilization of AI/Data based on social consensus, ④ development and distribution of models for creating social values, and ⑤ creation of organizations dedicated to policy research.

At today’s wrap-up briefing conference, major contributors to the development of the digital platform industry were awarded special medals by the Ministry of Science and ICT. This award was established this year to recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations who contribute to improving the domestic digital platform industry.

In addition, each module presented the key findings of the discussions held during a ten-month period. Module 1 recommended that the government should pursue the following measures in order to create an environment that fosters innovation and bold initiatives in the platform industry, including initiatives for supporting startup companies, e.g. ‘(tentative title) technology embassy establishment’, and initiatives for supporting platform technologies, such as resource sharing based on the Internet, AI, and the expanded virtual world.

Module 2 concluded that an effective self-regulatory system must be deployed. To facilitate this, it is necessary to establish the legal foundation for self-regulatory bodies, while the government must provide full assistance to that end. Furthermore, the government must develop policies related to the self-regulatory system based on careful market research into the dynamic nature of the platform and factors that inhibit competition.

Module 3 proposed eight key principles* for improving the social value of the platform using the findings gathered through stakeholder surveys and meetings with representatives from academia and industry. In addition, module 3 also suggested the provision of systemized support for research activities related to the adoption of platforms, and the establishment of principles for resolving conflicts in a neutral manner, as a means of resolving conflicts of interest involving platforms.

Finally, Module 4 emphasized the importance of data protection and the need for balanced policy implementation, and suggested that these goals could be realized by promoting the use of data tailored to the needs of the users instead of the suppliers, and by building a public consensus on the range, conditions, and restrictions on the use of public data and improving the relevant government policies.

* Eight key principles: expand connectivity and openness; pursue coevolution; strengthen inclusivity; address social issues; expand opportunities; build reliability procedures; increase diversity; and improve safety, etc.

The ensuing debate was presided over by Chairperson Lee Won-woo and Professor Lee Jae-yeol of Seoul National University, and featured a debate panel composed of various stakeholders invited from the platform industry, academia, and the legal profession, including Professor Choi Nan Seol-hyeon of Yonsei University, CEO Choi Seong-jin of Korea Startup Forum, Secretary-General Jeong Ji-yeon of the Consumers Union of Korea, Director Chu Moon-gap from the Korea Federation of SMEs, and Kwak Jeong-min from the law firm CLASS LLC. The panelists debated a variety of issues including the direction that platform self-regulation should take in order to produce tangible results after the launch of the civilian self-regulatory body (August 2022), and how to resolve conflicts of interest (i.e. conflicts between new and traditional industries caused by platform and create a properly functioning platform ecosystem.