Reasons for Proposal
The recent advances in digital technology and the advent of contactless society have led to new industries based on intelligent information technology, a better quality of life in intelligent information devices, and a positive effect across various fields.
It is true, however, that there are mounting concerns about negative effects, including not just simply inconvenience but also worsening socioeconomic inequality and discrimination, from differences between individuals for their ability to access and use intelligent information technology, which is continuously being advanced.
As people’s daily life is closely related to digital fluency, it is urgently needed to not only narrow and prevent the digital divide but also prepare the foundation for social integration and sustainable development by ensuring that any member of society can use digital devices and benefit from digital technology without alienation or discrimination.
However, the Act on Narrowing of the Digital Divide, which addresses narrowing and preventing the digital divide, was incorporated into the Framework Act on Intelligent Informatization in 2009, but there is currently no statutory plan to systematically seek to narrow and prevent the digital divide and no organization to coordinate and collaborate roles between competent authorities.
Currently, the Framework Act on Intelligent Informatization mostly defines developing, spreading, and promoting intelligent information technology and services as a law to lead and promote with its focus on implementing an intelligent information society and its positive functions, and it is not very active in dealing with the digital divide. In addition, it calls for dividing laws or legislating new laws since it is difficult to harmonize provisions with different intents and purposes within a law.
In this regard, the Digital Inclusion Act is legislated to prepare the legal and institutional framework for digital inclusion and define matters required to effectively establish and systematically enforce policies to promote digital inclusion in an effort to improve the quality of life for all members of society and contribute to social integration.
Details
A. Define matters related to digital inclusion to improve the quality of life for all members of society and contribute to social integration (Article 1).
B. Define “digital inclusion” as the environment and orientation to improve the quality of life for members of intelligent information society and promote sustainable inclusive growth by ensuring that all members of society can use intelligent information technology and services without alienation and discrimination (Article 2).
C. Define the central and local governments’ responsibilities to make sure all members of society can enjoy the basic rights of accessing and using intelligent information services and products (Article 3).
D. Require the Digital Inclusion Master Plan to be established and implemented every 3 years and action plans to be established and implemented every year (Articles 5 and 6).
E. Install the Digital Inclusion Committee under the Prime Minister to review and coordinate digital inclusion-related policies (Article 7).
F. Prepare and implement digital competence training measures to enhance digital competences in all members of society, and allow the installation and designation of centers to enhance local residents’ digital competences (Articles 12 and 13).
G. Allow the development and distribution of standard textbooks to support digital competence training and conduct diagnostic tests to determine the level of digital competences and to effectively support the enhancement of these skills (Articles 14 and 15).
H. Ensure accessibility so that digitally vulnerable groups can use intelligent information services without difficulty when national agencies provide such services and recommend national agencies to improve or correct them if required after inspecting their implementation status (Articles 17 and 18).
I. Allow for implementing the accessibility of a quality certification system for intelligent information services and products prescribed by Presidential Decree to help digitally vulnerable groups gain better access to and use of information (Article 19).
J. Prepare measures necessary to prioritize national agencies’ purchases of intelligent information products that ensure access to and use of information by digitally vulnerable groups (Article 21).
K. Establish and implement measures for the balanced development of intelligent information society, including narrowing a regional divide in the hyperconnectivity intelligent information network (Article 24).
L. Prepare measures to develop and improve the level of intelligent information technology and services to promote digital inclusion (Article 25).
M. Prepare measures that encourage the participation of social enterprises when pushing for intelligent information projects to seek digital inclusion (Article 27).
Notes
This Act rests on the premise that the Partial Amendment to the Act on Regulation of Special Cases of State Property (Bill No. 7423), represented and proposed by National Assembly Member Kang Byung-won, is passed. If the bill is not passed or is passed with modification, this Act must be adjusted accordingly.
