Annex 1: Summary of the Evolution of e-Government in the Republic of Korea

Stages Background and Trend Institution/Laws/Policies Focus
Preparation Stage
(1987-1995)
- Pursuing small government and enhanced efficiency of public administration - Building national basic information system (1st phase: 1987-1991; 2nd phase: 1992-1996)
- Establishment of the Ministry of Information and Communication (1994)
- Building the foundations for a superhigh-speed information communications architecture (1995-1998)
Back office management
– Building DB on National Core Information (1987-1991)
(Public administration, finance, education and research, defense and security, welfare, postal service, weather , marine freight transportation and copyright)
Diffusion Stage
(1996-2002)
– Responding to globalization and opening of the market
– Pursuing transparency in public administration and prevention of corruption
– Basic Plan for Promoting Informatization (1996)
– 11 priority areas for E-government (2001)
– Presidential Special Committee on E-government for effective implementation of projects in 11 priority areas (2001)
– Electronic Government Act (2001)
Front office management
E-government Projects in the first phase (2001-2003)
– Front office: G4C, national tax, E14 alignment of social insurances, procurement
– Back office: national finance, HR, educational administration, provincial administration
– Infrastructure: electronic distribution of documents, electronic signature, integrated pan- government information centre.
Maturation Stage
(2003-now)
– Regarding e-government as an independent policy area
– Pursuing smart and mobile government
– Pursuing openness, sharing information, communication and collaboration
– Road-map for e-government
– 31 priority areas for e-government
– Dissolution of the Ministry of Information and Communication; handing over its functions to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security
- Merging related laws
– Government 3.0 Initiative
E-government projects in the second phase (2003-2007)
– 9 front office projects
– 13 back office projects
– 9 infrastructure projects

Sources: Song, Hui Jun(2008). Historical Review of Korea’s Informatization Policies and Future Tasks and MOSPA & NIA, 2014, Electronic Government White Paper: 2008-2012, National Informatization Society Agency, pp 13-14.