Global big-tech entrepreneurs and policymakers will share their insights and visions on digital and big-tech, the buzzword in Korea under state-led Digital New Deal initiative and countries around the world as they ready for post-pandemic era at this year’s World Knowledge Forum held in Seoul next month.

Cedric O, minister of state for digital affairs in France, and Audrey Tang, digital minister in Taiwan, are among the invites to the annual international forum hosted by the Maekyung Media Group.

O and Tang, both in their 30s, are dubbed crusaders in digital drive in their countries.

O born in 1982 to a Korean father who was a researcher at national defense research institute and a French mother is a close aide to French President Emmanuel Macron. He is leading digital affairs ministry that was newly created in March.

O has been advocating the importance of technology prowess in keeping a country’s sovereignty. At the World Knowledge Forum, O will propose a blueprint on digital partnership between Korea and France and share future of France’s digital innovation.

Tang from Taiwan is known for her unique background as a transgender and a white hacker that quit school in her teens. She was appointed as the youngest minister without portfolio in Taiwan in October 2016, while working as a “civic hacker” trying to resolve political and social issues in Taiwan through digital technology.

Tang has been praised for her pivotal role in combating the coronavirus pandemic successfully in Taiwan by introducing various digital systems to combat the virus. Taiwan introduced an online distribution system for masks to help stable supply in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. Tang proposed a real-name system to the administration regarding the purchase of masks and created the “mask map” website.

At the World Knowledge Forum, Tang will introduce digital transformation master plans being led by Taiwan and explain their implications on Korea.

Justin Osofsky, chief operating officer of Instagram, also joins the forum. Osofsky, who leads operations and business development at Instagram, will share Instagram’s innovation as how it has moved fast to support the company facing the crisis and changes in future communication methods through social networking platform.

Niklas Ostberg, founder and chief executive of Delivery Hero, will also attend the forum as speaker this year for the second year in a row. After attending the World Knowledge Forum last year, Ostberg signed a merger and acquisition deal with Baedal Minjok, Korea’s largest food delivery app.

This year, Ostberg will explain changes in global delivery market landscape after COVID-19 and industry-wide innovation and share experiences on startup operations targeting global audiences. He will also speak of criticisms over a monopoly issue after Baedal Minjok takeover in Korea.

Kim Jae-hwan, policy head at Korea Internet Corporations Association, expected that a diverse range of new business projects will be introduced at the forum as it will be attended by speakers overseeing digital policy and business around the world. It should be an opportunity for Korea to achieve insights on what strategies are needed to expand its digital industry overseas and to evaluate where Korea’s digital capacity stands at the moment.

Under the title of “Pandemics Perspective: Shaping New Global Symbiosis,” the 21st World Knowledge Forum will be held from September 16 to 18 at Jangchung Arena and Shilla hotel in central Seoul with both online and offline sessions.

By Yoon Won-sup, Yoo Joon-ho, and Lee Eun-joo

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]