The Ministry of Science and ICT (“MSIT”; Minister Lee Jong-Ho) announced that Director General Choi Woohyuk of the Radio Policy Bureau and his Japanese counterpart, Director-General Motonobu Toyoshima of the Radio Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) met to discuss cooperation on March 23, 2023, in Tokyo, Japan.
The meeting was held as part of the follow-up to President Yoon's visit to Japan, intended to promote intergovernmental communication in a wide range of areas as discussed during the Korea-Japan summit (March 17, Press Conference) and to enhance bilateral cooperation (March 21, Cabinet meeting).
The Meeting between Korea and Japan's Radio Director Generals was established in 2010 upon the two countries' agreement on the need for cooperation in the field of radio waves and a venue to discuss specific ways to promote cooperation. The meeting resumed in four years, with the last one held in 2019.
At the Director General-level meeting, Korea and Japan discussed joint responses at WRC23 (e.g. research on 6G candidate frequencies), arranging the Korea-Japan Ministerial consultative body on science, technology and digitalization within the year, and cooperation in supporting domestic radio experts to assume the role of chairperson of expert groups in international organizations (e.g. ITU SG5).
※ World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC): Conference dubbed the “Radio Olympics” hosted by UN ITU held every four years to determine key issues in allocation of radio frequencies and radio communication. The next conference will take place in the UAE (Dubai) for four weeks in November 2023.
Korea proposed that the two countries work together on a joint contribution for a research to identify 6G candidate frequency band, which will be submitted to the Meeting of the APT Conference Preparatory Group for WRC (APG 23-6, to take place in Australia in August 2023), to which Japan responded that they will review the proposal.
※ APT Conference Preparatory Group for WRC (APG): The meeting where 38 countries in the Asia Pacific region gather to coordinate a joint position on WRC agenda items.
At this meeting, Korea and Japan agreed to hold the Director General-level meetings annually, upon shared belief that their continued cooperation in radio waves would not only help both countries develop domestic policies, but also help advance their common interest in the international stage. They agreed that the next meeting will be organized by Korea, but the schedule, venue and agenda would be decided at a later date upon mutual agreement.
During a meeting with the Japanese Vice-Minister Yoshiaki Takeuchi, Director General Choi Woo-hyuk of Radio Policy Bureau of the MSIT proposed to hold a meeting of the ministerial consultative body on science, technology and digitalization within the year, which will cover more extensive areas beyond radio waves. The Vice-Minister said that it will positively review the proposal. If the meeting convenes, it will mean the restoration of the channel for ministerial dialogue on science, technology and digitalization in five years, after last convening in 2018.
* The most recent Ministerial meeting between Korea and Japan on science and technology was held in 2018 in Japan, which was the Korea-China-Japan ICT Ministers’ meeting.
In addition, the MSIT asked for Japan's support in Korean radio wave experts' chairmanship in the ITU-T Study Group 5 (SG5, November), and was able to obtain support from Japan. If Korean experts successfully make it to the ITU-R study group chairmanship, it is expected that Korea would be able to secure global leadership in the discussions for future 6G technology development and standardization.
Director General Choi said, "At the Radio Director Generals' meeting, both sides shared information on key radio wave policies, and discussed future cooperation including research on 6G frequency and the agenda for the next WRC." He added, "After a half of four years, this meeting will serve as an opportunity to reinforce the foundation for cooperation between the two countries."
For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (E-mail: msitpress@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Please refer to the attached PDF.