'IT 839 Strategy'

Renews drive for informatization

Korea's attempt to set the foundation for an information society started in the 1980's and lasted until the early 1990's. In the mid 1990's, government wide informatization began in earnest. The Framework Act on Informatization Promotion, enacted in 1995, coupled with the broadband network catalyzed the renewed drive for informatization.
The IT industry in Korea grew from almost nothing to becoming one of the global IT leaders in 20 years. IT infrastructure such as broadband Internet and mobile communication are among the world's best. Based on the broadband networks and IT technology, Korea is leading the world in semiconductor production, mobile phone production, TFT-LCD, digital TV and Internet games. This was made possible by introduction of services that create new demand, infrastructure that enables such services and improvement of manufacturing capability.
The IT industry recently has shown second growth momentum as the broadening of network bandwidth and convergence blur boundaries between industries. Thus, the Korean Government announced the IT839 strategy to transform second growth momentum into the driving force of national development by converting the IT industry into a positive cycle structure. The IT839 strategy's objective is to link IT service, infrastructure to create the future growth engine and push the IT industry growth model by realizing a 'digital life.'Korean society is fast becoming a dynamic and innovative civilization as the open and network nature of IT is combined with Korean cultural characteristics. nw