Korea has actively pursued the concept of a connected, digital, or electronic government to better connect digital interactions with citizens and businesses. Known simply as e-government, the purpose is to make the government more competitive by making it efficient, transparent, and participatory by leveraging the world’s leading information technology (IT) infrastructure including broadband Internet.
The government laid the groundwork for an e-gov in the 1980s it its computer networks and in the 1990s by streamlining laws and institutions. In the 2000s the concept of an e-gov became a major national agenda, concentrating on 11 major initiatives and 31 major tasks. There are visible results, according to sources. Administrative work has increased in efficiency and transparency.
Administrative civil services have greatly expanded; and opportunities for people to participate in the policy making process has expanded. The UN ranked Korea first among all member countries in 2010 and 2012 in the categories of e-Government Development Index and e-Participation Index. It is reported that Korea is exporting its e-gov system to other countries.
Recently the government initiates ‘Gov 3.0’ that leads transparent government keen on communication with the public by allowing wider public access to government data, makes compete and efficient government by removing communication barriers among different government agencies and provides the user-oriented government by offering the public services tailored to people needs.
Development Stages of Korea’s e-Gov
The government has developed its e-gov in roughly six stages: inception, foundation, launch, diffusion, convergence, and ‘Government 3.0’. From the mid ‘80s to mid ‘90s, it built five National Basic Information Systems or NBISs, enacting the Computer Network Expansion and Usage Promotion in 1987. In the next stage, spanning from the mid ‘90s to 2000, it built an infrastructure for high-speed information communications, enacting the Framework Act on Information Promotion in 1995. For phase three, 2001-2002, the government then launched 11 major initiatives for e-gov, enacting the Act of e-Government in 2001. From 2003 to 2007 it next carried out 31 roadmap projects, laying the groundwork for linking and integrating multiple government departments and agencies.
Since 2008 it has focused on convergence, establishing the Master Plan for National Informatization in 2008 and carrying out 12 tasks based on principles of openness, sharing, and cooperation. Moreover, it has continued to develop its e-Gov by establishing the Smart Government promotion plans and carry out related projects. Now, the government allows wider public access to government data, expands the public participation, strengthens communication among government agencies and offers the public services tailored by initiating ‘Gov 3.0’ for continuous development of its e-Gov.
