MIC aims to forge a "100% M-Literacy, 0% M-Virus" environment With a view to transforming Korea into the "Mobile No. 1 country" to lead the global market by 2010, the Ministry of Information & Communication (MIC), is driving forward the M1 (Mobile Number One) Project. Now that the world is switching over to a mobile-centered society (a "Brave New Mobile World"), global mobile telecom markets also are faced with a rapid technology evolution and changes. Mobile-oriented convergence creates new value-added industries through the combination with other industries such as mobile, finance, medical treatment, and traffic, breaking down boundaries between industries. Korea's mobile industry, possessing technology and market competitiveness, is being deemed as the most promising field to accomplish early national income of $20,000 and the entry into a $30,000 era. In other words, the domestic mobile telecom industry which possesses technology as well as market competitiveness, is being regarded as the core growth engine for Korea to advance into the era of national income $20,000 per head and thereafter the $30,000 era. At the moment, Korea has the highest mobile line-up, which attracts a wide earlyadapter consumer class thanks to CDMA commercial system development for the first time in the world and terminal manufacturers of the third and the fourth position in the world. MIC officials responsible for the M-I Project note that it is necessary to create new value-added and creation opportunities by nurturing the mobile industry to gain an advantageous position moving ahead of others strategically. In a nutshell, it is necessary to nurture the mobile industry intensively as the most effective field of new national wealth creation since it is a hub industry of the IT industry as well as simultaneously a hub industry of convergence- model industry structure. With its vision to build Korea into a Global Mobile No. 1 Country," MIC aims to forge 100% M-Literacy, and a 0% MVirus environment, to accomplish 10 million subscribers Mobile Broadband, and to secure 30% of world terminal market, 50% of world mobile terminal core parts market, as well as 15% of world B3G system market respectively. As the strategy to make this vision a reality, MIC is planning to construct a "Mobile Special District," which can use diverse services in a specific district by utilizing mobile communication. In addition to such Mobile Special District construction, the M-1 Project aims to forge a mobile life environment in which mobile users can conveniently and safely, anytime and anywhere. This will, secure Korea's technological competitiveness and superiority to lead global markets through nextgeneration mobile technology development, as well as standardization activity strengthening. This will create a whole new mobile business environment, such as mobile content industry activation, as well as actively nurturing the mobile SW field, and forming a solid foundation for the mobile industry's continuous growth by nurturing creative manpower and a solid industry infrastructure. Especially in conjunction with the "Mobile Special District," MIC officials explained, "MIC will construct a next-generation mobile service utilization district as a test-bed which can use various services without an obstacle of technology and standardization in a Special District by utilizing diverse mobile terminals. MIC has further plans to promote Korea as a Free Technology Zone (FTZ) to enhance product competitiveness with curtailment of the development period as well as timely market entry, plus supporting innovative product development through a free test/experience environment.