The Ministry of Science and ICT held the first meeting of the ‘2025 Digital Platform Policy Forum’ on March 25, 2025, to begin discussions on policies aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the digital platform industry. The forum took place at Vertex Korea in Seoul, where experts from industry, academia, and research institutions gathered to share current issues in the online platform ecosystem and explore strategic directions.
The Digital Platform Policy Forum has been operated since 2021 with the goal of ensuring the healthy development of online-based platforms and creating an innovative environment. This year, in response to the rapidly changing international policy environment, including the intensifying competition for artificial intelligence (AI) supremacy and the inauguration of the Trump administration’s second term in the United States, the forum focused on establishing strategies for the domestic platform industry.
At the forum, Professor Lee Sung-yup from Korea University and Professor Kim Min-ki from KAIST each gave presentations. Professor Lee highlighted the need for enhancing the technological capabilities and securing talent for the domestic platform industry in light of the U.S.’s protectionist stance and non-tariff barriers. Professor Kim emphasized the importance of developing AI models specialized in the Korean language and culture and strategies for entering overseas markets amid the AI-based supremacy competition.
In the ensuing free discussions, participants agreed on the need for growth-friendly policies over a regulatory-focused approach under the consensus that the platform industry is the future growth driver of the Korean economy. Attendees also exchanged views on directions for legal and institutional improvements to secure digital sovereignty and establish an innovative ecosystem.
This year’s policy forum plans to launch new committee members consisting of technology and industry experts to conduct effective research. Professor Lee Won-woo of Seoul National University’s School of Law continues as the chairperson, and the forum will operate sub-groups for each agenda, aiming to propose policies by the end of the year.
Deputy Minister Kang Doo-hyun of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, “As we achieved the status of an information and communication powerhouse with ultra-fast internet infrastructure, it is now time to gain an edge in AI-based digital platform competition,” and he pledged comprehensive support to enhance the international competitiveness of the platform industry in collaboration with industry, academia, and research institutions.