South Korean universal service and Korean reunification

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The purpose of this study is to redefine the concept and scope of universal service and to develop universal service policy of South Korea for Korean reunification. The basic assumption of this study is that well developed universal service may contribute to the eventual reunification by ensuring equal access to information resources for the two peoples in the process of reunification. This study found that the current approaches to universal service are fragmented and lack holistic approach without resolving major concerns in universal service and Korean reunification.
The study began with redefining the concept and scope of universal service. The theoretical foundation of this study included social capital and diffusion of innovations theory in order to better understand universal service and to develop policy recommendations. The analysis focused on legislation, other policy documents, and major agreements between North and South Korea related to informatization and unification. This study uses policy analysis as both a data collection and data analysis technique, more specifically qualitative policy analysis with triangulation for improving credibility.
This study identified the major characteristics of universal service and explored the current universal service in South Korea by analyzing major policy instruments of South Korea. In addition, this study examined the major characteristics of North Korean telecommunication infrastructure and explored a universal service model for social integration between North and South Korea. This study examined the commonalities and the differences between North and South Korea in telecommunication policy and telecommunication infrastructure. This study found that: 1) there is no consensus about the scope of universal service, 2) there is information gap between North and South Korea, 3) both Koreas lack legal requirements for providing universal service from the perspective of Korean reunification, 4) finally, there is little discussion between North and South Korea to develop a unified universal service model.
Consequently, this study proposed policy recommendations in five areas: 1) redefining the scope of universal service, 2) developing a unified telecommunication infrastructure, 3) developing policy instruments, 4) restructuring government organizations, and 5) creating a participatory universal service model for Korean reunification.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• TABLE OF CONTENTS = x
• LIST OF TABLES = xvi
• LIST OF FIGURES = xviii
• CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION = 1
• 1. Statement of the Problem = 1
• 2. Purpose of the Study = 6
• 3. Overview of North Korea = 10
• 4. Significance of the Study = 20
• 5. Structure of the Study = 24
• CHAPTER 2 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS = 25
• 1. A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Universal Service = 25
• 2. Social Capital Theory, Universal Service, and Korean Reunification = 37
• 2.1. Overview of Social Capital Theory = 38
• 2.2. Applying Social Capital Theory to Universal Service = 40
• 3. Diffusion of Innovations Theory as a Framework for the Diffusion of Universal Service = 45
• 3.1. Exploring Diffusion of Innovations Theory = 45
• 3.2. Applying Diffusion of Innovations Theory to Universal Service for Korean Reunification = 50
• 3.3. Implications for Eventual Korean Reunification = 56
• CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY = 62
• 1. Overview = 63
• 2. Universal Service as Both Information Policy and Telecommunications Policy = 64
• 3. Data Collection and Data Analysis = 67
• 3.1. Overview of Policy analysis = 68
• 3.2. Use of Policy Analysis = 75
• 3.3. Implications for a Universal Service Study = 77
• 4. Trustworthiness of the Data = 80
• CHAPTER 4 CURRENT UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND MAJOR POLICY DEBATES IN SOUTH KOREA = 82
• 1. Overview of the Informatization of South Korea = 83
• 2. Universal Service in South Korea = 91
• 3. Major Policy Debates Surrounding Universal Service = 111
• 4. Implications for Cooperation between North and South = 118
• CHAPTER 5 POLICY ANALYSIS OF SOUTH KOREAN UNIVERSAL SERVICE = 125
• 1. Overview of the Analysis = 125
• 2. Policy Analysis of Informatization and Universal Service = 130
• 2.1. Elements of Universal Service = 130
• 2.2. Policy Instruments Analysis = 143
• 2.2.1. The National Informatization White Paper(White Paper) = 143
• 2.2.2. The E-Korea Vision 2006 (E-Korea) = 145
• 2.2.3. The Annual Plan for Informatization of Ministry of Information and Communication (Annual Plan) = 150
• 2.2.4. Framework Act on Informatization Promotion (FAIP) = 152
• 2.2.5. Framework Act on Telecommunications (FAT) = 155
• 2.2.6. Telecommunications Business Act (TBA) = 158
• 2.2.7. Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (NUIP Act) = 162
• 2.2.8. Act on Management of Knowledge Information Resources (MKIR Act) = 165
• 2.2.9. Act on Closing the Digital Divide (Digital Divide Act) = 168
• 3. Summary of Informatization Policy Analysis = 172
• CHAPTER 6 POLICY ANALYSIS OF SOUTH KOREAN REUNIFICATION POLICY = 183
• 1. Overview of the Analysis = 183
• 2. Unification Policy Instruments Analysis = 191
• 2.1. Peace and Prosperity Policy (President Roh's Unification Policy): General Directions of South Korean Unification Policy = 191
• 2.2. The White Paper on Korean Reunification (White Paper) = 193
• 2.3. The Annual Plan of Ministry of Unification(Annual Plan) = 195
• 2.4. The South-North Joint Declaration (Joint Declaration) = 197
• 2.5. The Agreement on Reconciliation, Nonaggression, and Exchanges and Cooperation between South and North Korea (Basic Agreement) = 201
• 2.6. Protocol on the Implementation and Observation of Chapter 3(South-North Exchanges and Cooperation) of the Agreement on Reconciliation, Nonaggression, and Exchanges and Cooperation(Implementation Protocol) = 204
• 2.7. The Agreement on Investment Protection between South and North(Investment Protection) = 207
• 2.8. The Agreement on Telecommunication in Gaeseong Industrial Complex (Gaeseong Telecommunication Agreement) = 211
• 2.9. Protocol between the Korean Peninsular Energy Development Organization (KEDO) and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Communications for the Implementation of a Light-Water Reactor Project (Communication Protocol) = 213
• 2.10. Inter-Korea Exchange and Cooperation Act (IKEC Act) = 215
• 2.11. The Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund Act (IKCF Act) = 220
• 3. Summary of Unification Policy Analysis = 225
• CHAPTER 7 A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE TELECOMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURES OF NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA = 235
• 1. Telecommunications Policy = 236
• 2. Telecommunications Infrastructure = 248
• 3. Telecommunication Cooperation between North and South Korea = 261
• 4. German Reunification = 266
• 5. Implications of the German Reunification = 285
• CHAPTER 8 POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS = 292
• 1. Redefining Universal Service = 294
• 2. Developing a Unified Telecommunication Infrastructure = 303
• 3. Developing Policy Instruments: Ensuring Universal Service through Legislation and Other Policy Documents = 308
• 4. Restructuring Government Organizations = 316
• 5. Creating a Participatory Universal Service Model for Korean Reunification = 321
• Appendix 1. The law-making process in South Korea = 333
• Appendix 2. Describing North Korea = 334
• Appendix 3. The Administrative districts of North Korea = 335
• Appendix 4. Food deficiency and food imports in North Korea = 336
• Appendix 5. Development stages in National informatization, 1993∼2003 = 337
• Appendix 6. Informatization education plan for 10 million people = 338
• Appendix 7. KII Project Budget = 339
• Appendix 8. Broadband Internet service subscribers by services = 340
• Appendix 9. Composition of Informatization Index = 341
• Appendix 11. Power Structure of North Korea = 343
• Appendix 12. Administrative Organizations of North Korea = 344
• Appendix 13. North Korean Workers Party (Chosun Rodong Dang) = 345
• References = 346