Korea to Host 2nd OECD ICT
Ministerial Meeting in 2008

To be held under the theme "The Future of the Internet"

The Ministry of Information and Communication announced that it successfully won the bid to host the 2nd OECD ICT Ministerial Meeting in 2008 at the 51st regular meeting of the OECD ICCP held in Budapest during the first week of October.
The first OECD ICT Ministerial Meeting was held in Ottawa Canada in 1998 addressing issues of informatization.
The 2008 ICT Ministerial Meeting that will be held under the theme "The Future of the Internet" will serve as a new turning point for the internet and be an opportunity to discuss the future of the internet and effects it will have on politics, economy, society and culture. It will also suggest the direction and vision of the future of ICT and provide policy recommendations to all countries.
It is expected that the meeting will be a valuable opportunity for Korea to strengthen its leadership in the field of IT and to play a leading role in major discussions on ICT related issues.
The OECD ICT Ministerial Meeting scheduled to be held in June 2008 will be a large scale international conference with the participation of thirty OECD member countries, eight observer countries such as China and Brazil, ICT Ministers and representatives of international organizations including APEC and ITU etc. The meeting will be the first Minister-level conference in ten years to be held in Asia.
Despite the fact that Korea took part in the bid later than Canada and Portugal, the country highlighted that its successful policy experiences in the IT field as well as hosting the meeting in Asia would be greatly helpful in promoting regional balance and steering the future of ICT.
The Ministry plans to prepare for the meeting by composing a preparatory group and organizing committee(OECD Secretariat, related organization etc.).
IT exports Top
$10 billion in Sept.
Korea posts the highest month IT export amount
The Ministry of Information and Communication announced that IT exports of September provisionally totaled $10.7 billion, which is the highest monthly amount. IT exports increased with seasonal demand centered around semiconductors, mobile phones, panels and D-TVs. Growth rate for IT export recorded 16.6%, which is the year's highest.
As for detailed items, exports for semiconductors reached $3.3 billion (21.9% increase from the previous year), mobile phones reached $2.3 billion (1.4%↑), display panels reached $1.8 billion (71.9%↑) and D-TVs reached $700 million (19.0%↑).
IT exports reached 10 billion USD for the first time in one and a half years, since it reached 9 billion USD in September 2005. Imports estimated $5.3 billion, a 9.6% increase from the previous year centering around information devices such as PC. Thus the balance for IT import and export recorded black with $5.4 billion, which highly exceeds the computer industry and is the highest monthly amount.
Export of Semiconductors and panels recorded the highest number ever and export of mobile phones reached highest within the current year.
Export of semiconductor increased 21.9% compared to the previous year to $3.3 billion, thanks to continuous increase of exports of Logic($680 million, 28.1%↑) MCP($360 million, 145%↑) and Wafer($540 million, 13.0%↑) and increased export of D-RAM followed by expectation for the new Windows Vista. This figure renewed the highest record of last month($3.1 billion).
With increased export of new products that target seasonal demand of the latter half of the year, mobile phones recorded $2.3 billion worth of exports, the year's highest. Particularly, export of newly emerging markets increased by more than two digits compared to the previous year, such as China($680 million, 42.8%↑), Mexico($100 million, 206%↑), Poland($30 million, 48.1%↑), Philippines($30 million, 35.2%↑), Chile($10 million, 46.3%↑), showing a rosy prospect for export recovery of mobile phones.
Export of panels increased 71.9% compared to the previous year to $1.8 billion with increased demand for monitors and large LCD TVs. The number renewed its highest record of $1.5 billion of last August.
D-TV recorded 700 million USD worth of exports, a 19% increase from the previous year, with increased exports of parts for overseas production in Mexico(116%↑), Poland(210%↑), Russia(237%↑), Slovakia(18.5%↑) etc.
Export to China recorded the highest monthly amount and export to EU also recorded the year's highest.
Despite the Chinese government's retrenchment policy, the economy still boasts high growth, with increased export for Korea's mobile phones($680 million, 42.8%↑), semiconductors($1.2 billion, 19.9%↑) and panels($660 million, 10.1%↑), summing up to $3.8 billion.
Exports to EU recorded $1.9 billion, 18.9% increase from the previous year, amid favorable export condition for panels($500 million, 219%↑), semiconductors($250 million, 15.7%↑) and D-TVs($200 million, 1.7%↑).
Exports to US also boasted growth for two consecutive months with increased export of semiconductors($400million, 51.1%↑), display panels($50 million, 73.1%↑) and D-TVs($50 million, 68.4%↑).
Exports to Japan recorded 780 million USD, a 15% increase from the previous month, with increased export of semiconductors($320 million, 4.0%↑), panels($220 million, 22.9%↑), mobile phones($50 million, 482%↑) and storage devices($20 million, 23.9%↑). Exports to Japan has been recording two-digit growth for the last 14 consecutive months since September 2005, thanks to increased export of panels.
IT export in September exceeded 10 billion USD for the first time due to seasonal demand, and has been posting continuous growth for the last three consecutive months. However, IT export growth might slow down in October due to reduced working days followed by Korea's holiday, Chuseok. Particularly, despite stable oil prices, unfavorable exchange rate of the Won might have a negative impact on Korea's IT exports.
Nevertheless it is expected that export will continue to increase with the launch of the new Windows Vista, European market's favorable response to new mobile phones, increased demand for D-TVs and seasonal demand. nw

Minister of Information and Communication Rho Jun-hyong