Science ministry forum weighs how to keep Korean platforms competitive in the AI era

The science ministry said Wednesday it convened a forum on strengthening the competitiveness of Korea's platform industry, bringing together academics, lawyers, industry officials and government representatives to debate how platforms should be governed in the AI era. The Sept. 22 forum at Post Tower in Myeong-dong was jointly organized with the Digital Platform Policy Forum, the Korea Internet Corporations Association and the Korea Information and Communications Law Association.

In the first presentation, Lee Kyung-sun of the Korea Information Society Development Institute described platforms as the engine connecting AI technology to real demand, and argued that the growth and competitiveness of domestic platforms should be re-established as the central goal of platform policy, citing the deepening advantage of global big tech. She called for a flexible, self-regulation-centered framework and stronger industry- and innovation-oriented governance.

Sun Ji-won of Hanyang University followed with a call for a shift in how regulation is conceived, saying platform rules should protect users' choices rather than directly restrict conduct. Top-down regulation has limits given the severe information asymmetry between platform operators and regulators, she said, suggesting stronger communication-based governance in which ecosystem members take the lead.

A panel discussion chaired by Lee Sung-yup, president of the Korea Information and Communications Law Association, drew in participants from academia, the legal profession, industry and government to debate international competitiveness and a sustainable ecosystem for platforms.

"We are now at the center of a vast transition driven by the advancement of artificial intelligence, and finding a balance between innovation and social responsibility in platform policy is more important than ever," said Ryu Je-myung, the ministry's second vice minister. He said the ministry had designed policy alternatives through expert deliberation and worked with platform companies to establish self-regulation principles, and would continue communicating closely with ecosystem members.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said it will actively reflect the proposals raised at the forum when drawing up future policy, with the aim of helping domestic platforms compete and grow in global markets.