On 22 November 2023, the UK's Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT established a digital partnership to promote cooperation on digital issues around the four pillars of strengthening digital infrastructure, promoting technological innovation, strengthening multi-stakeholder forums and approaches, and improving baseline cybersecurity and ensuring the security of key technologies, providing a strategic framework for digital cooperation. The meta-strategy compiles its important contents and provides a reference for the discussion of international digital cooperation.
Background
The UK and South Korea recognise the importance of working together to promote shared values, unlock new economic opportunities and guard against new and emerging risks. There is a high degree of complementarity in national strategies that determine the participation of international technology:
1) South Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy for Freedom, Peace and Prosperity (2022) and the United Kingdom's Comprehensive Review (2023) both emphasize fundamental freedoms and an enduring commitment to upholding international norms and the rules-based international order;
2) South Korea's Digital Strategy (2022) and the United Kingdom's International Technology Strategy (2023) identify key technology areas of strategic focus, such as telecommunications and artificial intelligence, and highlight the two countries' shared ambition to play a leading role in shaping international technology norms.
As open countries, the two countries are aligned in upholding free, fair, and competitive digital markets. The two countries are committed to building secure and resilient digital infrastructure and chains, ensuring that all stakeholders have a seat at the table when discussing the future of the digital world. Both sides believe that data-driven technology can be a powerful force for good, spreading innovation, driving productivity, and catalyzing significant social and economic benefits. The two countries recognize their common prospectsIt seeks to leverage its complementary strengths to support each other to stay at the forefront of technological progress and to promote global norms and standards that ensure compliance with their shared values. In the emerging digital and technology sectors, the two countries recognize the need to promote and guide the development and deployment of open, responsible, secure, and resilient new technologies.
The partnership is an important milestone in achieving the UK-Korea Bilateral Framework (2022). It is based on long-standing bilateral cooperation in the fields of science, technology and digital and will coordinate activities to be mutually defined with these cooperationIncluding:The Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation (1985), the Memorandum of Understanding on Information and Communication Technology Cooperation (2013), and the ongoing joint work on policy coordination, joint research and implementation of mobility plans through the meetings of the Joint Committee on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, the ICT Policy Forum, the Cyber Policy Consultation and other bilateral forums.
Management
The UK-Korea Digital Partnership Forum will oversee the operation of the partnership. The forum is held annually and is chaired by a deputy minister from the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea and a minister from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology of the United Kingdom. Separate work-level management arrangements will be established for each policy area. The scope, objectives and means of optimal cooperation will be reviewed as needed.
Pillar 1: Improving digital infrastructure
1.The future of telecommunications and chain resilience
Robust and reliable digital infrastructure is the backbone of a thriving digital economy. A competitive and diverse telecommunications** market is critical to driving innovation and efficiency across the industry and supporting the resilience of critical digital infrastructure. International cooperation and policy coordination among countries are necessary to drive long-term and sustainable changes in marketsThe following measures will be taken:
1) Cooperate in multilateral forums to promote the security, resilience and interoperability of current and future telecommunication networks;
2) Seek common opportunities to drive technological innovation within the telecommunications industry, such as R&D collaborations in areas including, but not limited to, 5G, 6G, and future wireless technologies such as Open RAN;
and 3) promote cooperation and partnership between industry and academia of the two countries.
2.Semiconductors
Semiconductors are essential to the modern world. They keep critical sectors such as healthcare, defense, and communications running, and drive advancements in world-changing digital technologies like artificial intelligence, 5G 6G, and quantum computing. Given the importance of semiconductors to the economies of both countries,The following measures will be taken:
1) Promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of semiconductor R&D, focusing on areas of mutual interest and strength, including but not limited to: cutting-edge chip design;Compounds and Advanced Semiconductor Materials;Technologies after Moore's Law, such as advanced packaging.
2) Coordinate with relevant stakeholders, including institutions, industry and academia, to facilitate exchanges among professional and technical researchers.
Pillar 2: Promoting technological innovation
1.Artificial intelligence
The two sides will work closely together to promote safe, responsible, human-centered, and trustworthy AI, and will work together to strengthen interoperability between the two countries' AI governance frameworks and develop talent for the future of AI. The two sides acknowledged the need to coordinate in multilateral forums to prevent the market** and provide a global AI environment that is consistent with the shared values of both countriesThe following measures will be taken:
1) Explore opportunities for collaboration in interoperability and AI skills development;
2) Promote agile approaches to AI governance, based on clear evidence and multi-stakeholder engagement;
3) deepen cooperation in multilateral forums, in particular the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), OECD and UNESCO, and promote coordination among like-minded international partners
4) Promote information sharing and dialogue to more effectively identify and address hazards arising from the application of AI systems.
2.data
The importance of international cooperation in facilitating credible cross-border data flows, harnessing the innovative potential of data, and ensuring the integrity of data infrastructure. The two sides will deepen data cooperation on these issues and take the following measures:
1) Supporting international data flows: will cooperate to promote the free flow and trust of data across borders, while ensuring the protection of personal data, countering unjustified data localization measures, strengthening policy cooperation, and facilitating discussions on access to personal data held by private sector entities.
2) Data Availability and Innovation: Developments in data sharing will be jointly studied and opportunities for future collaboration will be explored to facilitate data sharing between the private sector and researchers.
3) Data Security and Resilience: Collaboration will be held on the security and resilience of data infrastructure, including data centers and cloud computing.
4) Trust Services and e-Authentication: A solution that will enable greater compatibility and interoperability between e-authentication and e-signatures between the two countries.
3.Develop a technology ecosystem
The two parties will promote knowledge and information sharing to enhance the strengths of their respective technology ecosystemsThe following measures will be taken:
1) Promote cooperation and partnerships between businesses in both countries to harness and drive innovation, especially in key technology areas such as artificial intelligence;
2) Hold workshops with policymakers, business representatives (including start-ups), and other stakeholders in the technology ecosystems of the two countries to enhance mutual understanding of the benefits of the ecosystem, exchange information on best practices, and identify areas and ways of collaboration;
3) Actively support partnerships between innovative technology companies, including but not limited to start-ups, and provide business-to-business matchmaking opportunities wherever possible. This includes co-identifying priority areas, analyzing and sharing the company's needs, identifying potential partners, and assisting in setting up one-on-one meetings and other business-to-business matchmaking activities.
Pillar 3: Strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration
1.Global digital norms
Digital technologies will present opportunities, and there is a need for global norms that will help promote digital innovation in order to address the concerns and risks posed by digital technologies and to enhance the well-being of global citizens. The two sides recognize the importance of global cooperation in discussing and implementing global norms for emerging digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, and will work closely together to find ways to promote global cooperation.
2.Digital technology standards
The important role of digital technology standards in the development of digital technologies, as well as the practical impact of standards on residents and society. The two sides will work together to support an industry-led, inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach to the development of digital technology standards that are fit for purpose, represent all stakeholders, and uphold the shared democratic values of both countries. The following measures will be taken:
1) Promote and support the development of digital technology standards in an industry-led, multi-participatory, transparent, open and consensus-based manner;
2) Strengthen cooperation and exchange of information in areas of mutual interest, such as quantum, bilateral cooperation in improving global standard-setting, and joint response to proposals that are not in line with the shared democratic values of the two countries;
and 3) strengthen participation, coordination and stakeholder outreach in both countries through the Digital Technology Standards Focal Point Group, working with others who share the same views and supporting a multi-stakeholder approach.
3.Internet Governance
The multi-stakeholder model is integral to ensuring a free and open global Internet. The two sides recognized the importance of preserving the current multi-stakeholder arrangements, through which the day-to-day operations of the Internet are managed. both sidesWill work together:
1) Improve the efficiency of current multi-stakeholder bodies for Internet governance, such as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Governance Forum;
2) promote multi-stakeholder governance processes internationally, highlighting its successes in UN organizations, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU);
and 3) ensure a positive outcome of the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 review process (UN General Assembly in 2025), including a multi-stakeholder model for sustainable development and enhanced Internet governance.
4.A fair and competitive digital marketplace
Both sides recognized the need to promote competition in the digital market and support innovation. both sidesWill work together:
1) Strengthen policy coherence and consistency on how to better promote competition in the digital market;
and 2) facilitate the sharing of information on case studies and best practices, and initiate dialogue to enhance understanding of different policy approaches;
3) Encourage fair competition practices and promote innovation in the digital market.
Pillar 4: Improving cybersecurityEnsure the safety of key technologies
1.Cybersecurity
Both sides recognize the importance of providing companies and organizations with effective tools and guidance to prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks and security breaches. This is key to business resilience and business continuity, as well as economic growth and prosperity. both sidesWe will work together in the following waysImprove your organization's cybersecurity baseline, secure critical technologies, and support a thriving cyber ecosystem
1) Work together to strengthen the security and privacy of apps and app stores in their respective countries, share lessons learned, and build a global consensus on the importance of app security and privacy;
2) co-develop information sharing and collaboration plans to strengthen cyber resilience;
3) share the CyberSkills Initiative's experience and ways to build a cyber skills pipeline and cyber security profession, including the results of the UK Cyber Security Council's work on cyber security professional standards;
4) share policy work on improving the cybersecurity of the digital chain, including policy options to improve the baseline security of digital products and services and reduce the risk of attacks on the chain;
5) work together to strengthen the security of IoT devices in their respective countries and coordinate the sharing of insights to facilitate global coordination and action;
6) Coordinate the positions of the two countries in multilateral forums on cybersecurity efforts and share information before making important commitments.
2.* Safety
The two companies will work together to adopt and advocate for a risk-based approach to cybersecurity, with a focus on protecting users, especially children, and addressing harmful content, while upholding fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression. By strengthening dialogue and collaboration, participants will actively share best practices and promote regulatory consistency to create a safe and inclusive online environment. The following measures will be taken:
1) Strengthen cooperation and policy exchanges, building on the Internet security principles agreed by the G7 Digital and Technology Track;
2) Promote the development of a risk-based, system- and process-based approach to security to protect and promote human rights;
and 3) opportunities for deeper engagement and collaboration in priority thematic areas related to cybersecurity, including literacy, cybersecurity technologies, tackling disinformation and harmful content.