Minister Yoo Young-min of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) deliver's his inaugural speech at the Gwacheon government complex south of Seoul on July 11. The MSIP has been tentatively renamed as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Communications. (Photo: MSIP)

Minister Yoo Young-min of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) made his official debut on July 12 as MSIP minister by participating in a ceremony to mark the sixth anniversary of Information Protection Day. It was Minister Yoo’s first official appearance since taking office as the 3rd MSIP minister on July 11.

During a ceremony held at the K-Hotel in Yanjae-dong, Seoul Minister Yoo presented government awards to those who have contributed to the protection of information. He also took the time out to look and discuss new technologies and products that information protection companies have released or announced. In particular, Yoo showed keen interest in a mock hack into CCTV and railway control systems. Among those on hand on the occasion were Minister Yoo; Rep. Yoo Seung-hee of the Minju Party of Korea (MPK); Commissioner Koh Sam-seok of the Korea Communications Commission; and President Baik Kee-seung of Korea Internet & Security Agency.

In order to cope with cyber threats, which are getting smarter, Minister Yoo said his ministry plans to make investments into preventive measures and strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors while aggressively pushing for the development of new technologies like blockchain. During the anniversary ceremony, Minister Yoo delivered a speech on behalf of President Moon Jae-in in which the new government makes securing public safety the top information protection policy. President Moon said, “Preemptive measures need to be taken since cyber security is not only an advance guard to protect people and state, but also a key area that will enable a sustainable potential for the advent of the 4th Industrial Revolution.”

‘Turning Over a New Leaf to Spearhead 4th Industrial Revolution'

While delivering his inaugural speech at the Gwacheon government complex south of Seoul on July 11, Minister Yoo said his ministry will devote itself to being reborn as a ministry charged with spearheading the 4th Industrial Revolution, moving beyond a creative economy. 

“The MSIP, which posed as a ministry charged with the creative economy some time ago, failed to obtain public trust, and its existence was unpredictable, but the ministry is now again charged with immense functions the strengthening of a control tower for science and technology innovation and the ministry with the 4th Industrial Revolution.” 

Some people doubted a possibility that the MSIP, which made “insufficient” outcomes when it came to the creative economy, could lead the 4th Industrial Revolution, and the pubic consensus converged on the view that the ministry, which is well versed in the understanding of science & technology and ICT, keys of the 4th Industrial Revolution, needs to be given one more chance, he added. Yoo disclosed his determination to turn over a new leaf to lead the convergence of science & technology and ICT. 

In regard to this, Minister Yoo suggested the direction of major future policies creating the ministry’s innovative environment; the strengthening of science & technology and ICT expertise; the securing of the global competitiveness of 5G network, IoT, and artificial intelligence; the ramping up of mandatory education of software; the developing of new technologies, including blockchain; the reducing of household communications charges; and the revamping of regulations and irrational practices. 

The new minister also revealed his vision that the ministry be reborn as one charged with bracing for the future to cope with changes of the times, rather than restring on the conventional outcomes and implementation methods. Yoo said his ministry is determined to reestablish its clear vision and goals from the viewpoints of the general public by emptying what has so far filled the ministry. New things can be filled when the conventional mold is broken, and when all problems are reviewed in a new perspective, he said, the MSIP can be reborn as a ministry which can trust from people again. 

The replacement of the new MSIP minister represents the first time a businessman-turned minister has taken the helm of the ministry, which debuted in 2013. Minister Yoo began his career as a software engineer and held such positions as managing director of LG Electronics, senior executive vice president of LG CNS, and president of POSCO Management Research Institute.