SEOUL, KOREA – April 22 is the 57th annual Information and Communications Day. Korea’s IT history began with the establishment of the Korea Post in April 1884. The establishment of the Korea Post gave people the opportunity to share a variety of information, which had been shared only by the monarch and a small percentage of high-ranking governmental officials. The opening of Korea Post was a historical event; people began to exchange letters and parcels at home and abroad since that time.
In 1902 the first telephone service was connected between Hanseong and Incheon, permitting an ordinary person to own a telephone. A typewriter was invented by Dr. Gong Byeong-woo in 1946, and laid the foundation for Korean IT technology. At the end of the 1960s, computers were officially introduced to government branches. Also the Korean engineers who had resided abroad returned to Korea and actively developed software technology.
In the 1980s, people started owning personal computers at home. This was the time when different types of computer hardware were released and the software industry began to develop. People watched color TV, and every home could have a telephone connected to an electronic switching system called TDX, which automatically linked telephone lines from door to door. These circumstances became the groundwork for the Korean communications service.
The development of telephone wires and modems triggered the beginning of the Internet and PC communication. In the 90s Korean IT technology was at the highest level as it succeeded in the spread of the Internet and PC communications, high-speed communications network, and the world's first CDMA commercialization. Since the 2000s, people were able to watch TV with their cell phone through DMB. It is seen in WiBro commercialization and LTE nationwide network system today. Korean IT technology is also rising in mobile communication. Korea IT, which started with the opening of Korea Post long ago, has continued to thrive today. The Korea Post system started by Emperor Gojong grew together with communication technology in the 20 century and brought the era of telegrams and telephones. It eventually brought an IT revolution in the 21st century and connected the world together through the Internet. The news posted by people on the other side of the world is spreading at a high speed. It is also possible to communicate with anyone through Facebook, Twitter, and SNS regardless of where you are.
To commemorate the opening of the Korea Post on April 22, 1884, the Korean government decided to establish it as the Information and Communications Day. Hong Suk-woo, Minister of Knowledge Economy said, "Since we entered into the information society, the Korean IT industry has rapidly developed, and has generated a great level of synergy while connecting industries together." "The IT industry has emerged as the leader of the fusion era," he added. "Fusion is a huge flow today, and the government is leading this trend by collaborating key industries with IT," he explained. "To prepare for the era of super-network based on rapid network systems and big data expansion, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy is planning to start Giga Korea Project," he said.
Lee Kye-cheol, Chairman of Korea Communications Commission said at the commemoration ceremony, "Korea Post was established 128 years ago, and today Korea has grown into a strong ICT power that is leading the global market." Highly appreciating Korean IT level, he added, "After completing the broadband convergence network project, the domestic mobile communications industry has been concentrating on building nationwide LTE and WiBro network, maintaining the world's most competitive ICT infra." He added, "The government's role is to create smart ecology for the IT industry and promote Internet enterprises based on win-win cooperation with mobile communications and portal site companies."
