President Yoon Suk Yeol applauds during the New York Digital Vision Forum at New York University, September 21. (Courtesy of the Office of the President)

During his September 21 keynote address at the New York Digital Vision Forum, President Yoon Suk Yeol announced that Korea would soon reveal its “Digital Bill of Rights” that contains values and ideas critical for the prosperity of digital communities and expressed his hope that it would become “a compass” in the era of deepening digitalization.

Following President Yoon’s speech, the Korean government published the Digital Bill of Rights on September 25, highlighting five guiding principles for building a just and mutually prosperous digital future.

The bill defines fundamental principles for realizing a “Digital Society of Mutual Prosperity,” namely guaranteeing freedom and rights in the digital environment, ensuring fair access and equal opportunities regarding digital data and information, building a safe and trustworthy digital society, promoting digital innovation based on autonomy and creativity, and contributing to the well-being of humanity.

As the first principle – guaranteeing freedom and rights in the digital environment – the bill stresses that all people should be provided with a stable network environment and guaranteed digital service accessibility without discrimination.

The government cited customer self-service electronic kiosks as one example since a growing number of elderly citizens have difficulties using them.

The bill also addresses the so-called right to be forgotten, meaning private information about a person can be removed from internet searches and other directories, and the right to be disconnected as well.

In its second principle – fair access and equal opportunities regarding digital data and information – the bill acknowledges the need for measures to tackle challenges stemming from a monopoly of information and technology and the unfairness of algorithms. It also stresses that digital assets deserve due protection.

In the third principle – building a safe and trustworthy digital society – the bill stresses the systematic managing of digital threats and the ethical development of technologies to build a healthy and safe digital environment.

In the fourth principle – promoting digital innovation based on autonomy and creativity – the bill urges revamping outdated regulations that do not fit the digital environment and expanding the pool of digital experts to support digital innovation.

In the last principle – contributing to the well-being of humanity – the bill calls for countries to form an international community for global cooperative governance through international digital rules and make efforts to address digital disparities among nations.

The government plans to use the bill as the standard for addressing challenges in the era of deepening digitalization and the foundation for drafting or revising specific digital-related laws.

“I call on my fellow digital citizens to join our endeavors to realize a digital society where everyone can enjoy the benefits of AI and digital innovation, in a fair and just manner,” President Yoon said in the keynote speech.

“The Republic of Korea will play its part in establishing global digital norms, including the establishment of an international organization,” the President added, “…and will strive for digital innovation in collaboration with the world to maximize the freedom and welfare of humanity.”

Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-ho said the announcement of the Digital Bill of Rights expresses Korea’s confidence that it can proudly offer a normative order that the entire world can embrace.

President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers his keynote address during the New York Digital Vision Forum at New York University, September 21. (Courtesy of the Office of the President)