Information Technology Revolution in the Republic of Korea: Socio-Economic Development Issues and Policymaking Challenges
Abstract
The worldwide explosion of information and communication technologies profoundly affected economic growth and society in the Republic of Korea in the 1990s and early 2000s. Among developing countries, South Korea was hardly alone in pursuing strategies to capitalize on ICTs as a potential motor of economic growth and, whatever the strains caused by the present slowdown in ICT industries as a whole, the Republic of Korea can largely be considered a success as a developing country that has harnessed ICTs for economic growth and social transformation. Many other developing countries among them India, the Philippines, Jordan, Brazil, and Ghana have tried to become world or regional sources of ICT products and services with varying degrees of success. The Republic of Koreas experience can shed some light on the important factors in ICT-based national development strategies, as well as illustrate the multifaceted way in which ICTs interact with economic and social objectives. This chapter will help place the ongoing Digital Revolution in South Korea in perspective, drawing on the authors experience with ICT applications in a wide variety of international development contexts. It will then discuss some of the dominant features of ICTs in the ROKs economy. Next, it will turn to some of the economic governance issues related to ICTs in South Korea. Finally, it will look at some of the future developments and implications for both the ROK and other countries considering or engaged in ICT growth strategies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- AD1032397
Entities
People
- Bruce P. Chadwick
Organizations
- Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies