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Calendar » ICT-based response to COVID-19: Solutions and experiences from Korea

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ICT-based response to COVID-19: Solutions and experiences from Korea

January 28, 2021 | 1:27 PM |

Presentations are attached. 

Organized jointly by the WBG Korea office and Smart Cities KSB, this webinar introduced Korea’s ICT-based solutions for COVID-19 response and management. 
The webinar started with an overview by Ms. Hyelin Chung(Senior Manager, NIA) on an online course for ICT-based response to COVID-19 recently developed by Korea’s Ministry of Interior and Safety (MoIS) and National Information Society Agency (NIA).  This was followed by presentations on specific ICT-based COVID-19 solutions which are linked to smart city development; Ms. Hyejeong Lim(Senior Manager, NIA) presented on release and utilization of open data, Dr. Sanghyung Jang(Director, Korea Education and Research Information Service) on digital transformation of education in the COVID-19 era, Dr. Sanghoon Lee, Professor, Korea University) on COVID-19 contact tracing system, and finally Dr. Brian Cotton(Vice President, Frost & Sullivan’s Digital Transformation Practice) on the overseas expansion of K-quarantine. 


The session provided an overview of Korea’s experience in using ICT and open data to fight against COVID-19 in realms of health, education and contact tracing system. Key takeaways from the webinar are:
•    Open/big data can be used for efficient city management and social service delivery in times of a pandemic.
o    In Korea, open data is used for sharing information with the public through mobile applications and web services; and collaboration across multiple public and private entities led to the development of an effective Covid-19 contract tracing system and K-Quarantine solutions.
o    The existing ICT infrastructure in Korea also facilitated a transition to a hybrid education model combining online and face-to-face learning after Covid-19.
•    Data privacy is a critical concern and robust regulations must be in place for defining who has the authority to access, use and safeguard data.
•    Covid-19 as a global crisis can be turned into an opportunity to build regulatory and institutional systems, which were strengthened in Korea through SARS and MERS pandemics. Likewise, online education and other social services can be an opportunity to address digital divide.

 

Opening Remarks

Hoon Sahib Soh, Special Representative,  World Bank Group Korea Office

Moderator

Peter D. Ellis, Manager, Urban Development, Resilience and Land Unit, East and Southern Africa Region, World Bank

Presenters

Hyelin Chung, Senior Manager, National Information Society Agency(NIA)

Hyejeong Lim, Senior Manager, National Information Society Agency(NIA)

Sanghyun Jang, Director, Korea Education and Research Information Service(KERIS)

Sanghoon Lee,Professor, Department of  Smart City, Korea University

Brian Cotton, Partner and Global VP, Digital Transformation Practice, Frost & Sullivan