BUSAN ― South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Monday called on members of the International Telecommunication Union to work together to combat rising digital inequality.

In a keynote speech to launch the 19th ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, which kicked off here Monday, the president said information and communications technology should be developed and aimed primarily at boosting the welfare of all ages, races and classes.

“We must prepare for a digital revolution in which high-speed connections could raise concerns about increasing the digital divide further between countries,” she said.

“I hope the conference will offer a chance for the international community to collaborate and realize its plan in helping everyone gain the benefits of the digital revolution.”

The conference, referred to as the PP-14, which will run until Nov. 7, will cover a wide range of IT issues, including fifth-generation wireless communications and the Internet of Things. 

However, ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Toure and Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning Choi Yang-hee said the conference would aim to find future-oriented solutions that can help emerging economies to expand their ICT infrastructure.

Also, the secretary-general told the press that members will engage in security talks and find ways to stop the spread of diseases such as Ebola through the use of technology.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the ITU should prioritize ICT technology on achieving sustainable development for the global economy.

“As we shape a new development agenda and strive for a new agreement on climate change, let us continue to work together to harness the power of technology to create an accessible and sustainable future for all,” Ban Ki-moon said in a video message.

Korea, Asia’s second country to hold the PP-14 conference after Japan in 1994, became an official member of the ITU in 1952 during the Korean War.

It then sought international assistance to rebuild its telecommunication networks, which were mostly destroyed during the first three months of the South-North conflict.

The ICT Ministry said Asia’s fourth-largest economy, which seeks to be a donor country, will “give back” by sharing its technology know-how with underdeveloped and developing countries, and helping them build their telecommunications infrastructure.

By Park Hyong-ki (hkp@heraldcorp.com)