The data industry has urged the enactment of the 'Data Basic Act' for national economic development using data, likened to 'oil' in the era of the 4th industrial revolution. On June 24th, the Korea Data Industry Association announced the 'Appeal by the Data Industry Professionals for the Prompt Enactment of the Data Basic Act'.
The enactment of the Data Basic Act, currently pending in the National Assembly, includes: 1)Establishment of a basic plan to promote data industry, 2) Formation of the Prime Minister's National Data Strategy Committee, and 3) Regulations on illegal acquisition and use of data assets. The act is being promoted for the purpose of facilitating the production, trade, and utilization of private data and establishing an institutional foundation for the development of the data industry.
The enactment bill was proposed at the end of last year by the ruling party (Assemblyman Seung-rae Jo the Democratic Party of Korea) and the opposition party (Assembly woman Eun-ah Heo of People's Power), but there has been no progress in discussion since then. This is because the Science, ICT, Future Planning, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, which is a standing committee under the National Assembly, is not functioning properly due to the political strife between the ruling and opposition parties.
Data is becoming increasingly important as an industry that creates new added value and has a high effect of start-up, employment, and recruitment. Linked with all industrial sectors, it creates convergence and synergy. As a result, data is expected to play a key role in leading the shared growth of the entire industry.
Although the so-called 'Data 3 Act' was passed last year, additional efforts are required to establish legal basis and governance system for Korea to become a data advanced country, such as promoting the distribution and utilization of private data and expanding the data industry.
In the appeal, the association stressed, “The Data Basic Act is a bill prepared with the purpose of establishing an institutional foundation to develop the data industry, so there are no political disputes between the ruling and opposition parties. As it is a bill to create various economic values from the data and lay the foundation for the development of the data industry, the data industry as well as data entrepreneurs have high expectations. The appeal said, “We express our deep concerns that the Basic Data Acthas not yet been passed, although it is the foundation for becoming a data powerhouse. The data industry and data entrepreneurs earnestly plead for the swift passage of the Data Basic Act.”
<Full text of the 'Appeal by the Data Industry Professionals for the Prompt Enactment of the Data Basic Act>
1. In order todrive national economic development through data, the crude oil in the 4th industrial revolution, the Data Basic Act must be enacted as soon as possible.
Data,the crude oil in the 4th industrial revolution, is a high value-added industry that creates new added value and has high effects of job creation, employment, and recruitment. As the core of Korea's economic growth engine, it is linked with all industrial sectors to create synergy through convergence and fusion. In addition, the data industry is taking the lead at the center of the key role that spearheads the shared growth of all industries.
The government and the public, as well as all levels of society have declared the Fourth Industrial Revolution, making active support and investment into the field. Having recognized the importance of data professionals, data industry professionals are also making ceaseless efforts.
Last year, the Data 3 Act wanted by the data industry and data industry professional was passed. Although the government is implementing various policies for the revolutionary development of the data industry, the legal basis and a governance system must be established more urgently for South Korea to become a data advanced country through the promotion of private data distribution and utilization and the nurturing the data industry.
To this end, the Data Basic Actmust be enacted and executed promptly, as it aims to create various economic values from data, lay a developmental foundation for the data industry, promote the production, trade, and utilization of private data, and establish an institutional foundation for the development of the data industry.
2. Prompt passage of the Basic Data Act is urgently needed.
The Data Basic Act, which is currently pending in the National Assembly, promotes the production, trade, and utilization of private data, including establishment of a basic plan to promote data industry, establishment of a national data strategy committee under the Prime Minister's Office, and regulations on prohibiting illegal use and acquisitionof data assets. As the bill was prepared with the intentof establishing an institutional basis for the development of data industry, there should be no political issue between the ruling and opposition parties.
The data industry and data entrepreneurs have very high expectations for the Data Basic Act, which aims to contribute to the enhancement of people's lives and national economic development through legislation, in order to create various economic values from data and lay the foundation for developing the data industry.
Since the Data Basic Act, which is the foundation for leading the 4th industrial revolution and becoming a data powerhouse with these demands of the times has not yet been passed, we data industry professionals and data entrepreneurs hereby earnestly appeal for the swift passage of the Data Basic Act.
Based on this, we data industry professionalswill take the lead in the development of Korea’s data industry through data, the crude oil of the 4thindustrial revolution, and do our best to set an important cornerstone for the development of the national economy
2021. 6. 23.
All data professional members of the Korea Data Industry Association
By Staff Reporter Ji-seon Kim river@etnews.com