South Korea and Japan are sharing next-generation spectrum policies, including 6G and low Earth orbit satellite communications, and strengthening cooperation for the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27).

The Ministry of Science and ICT held the seventh Korea-Japan Radio Bureau Directors’ Meeting with Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in Seoul on Tuesday.

WRC is the top decision-making conference held every 4 years by the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R). It establishes and revises radio regulations covering international frequency allocation and rules of use, and affects national spectrum policies and related industries.

To strengthen international cooperation in radio, the ministry operates director-level consultative bodies with major countries including Japan, China and the United States. The Korea-Japan Radio Bureau Directors’ Meeting began in 2010. Following the sixth meeting held in Osaka last year, this year’s meeting was held in Seoul.

The meeting was attended by Lee Hyun-ho (이현호), director general for radio policy at the ministry, and Hisashi Onaga (오나가 히사시), head of the Radio Department at Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as chief representatives, along with government officials and representatives from industry, academia and research. The two countries shared positions on next-generation spectrum policies such as 6G and low Earth orbit satellite communications, and on related agenda items to be discussed at WRC-27. They also agreed to continue information sharing and cooperation between neighboring countries to respond to changes in the future radio environment.

Lee said close cooperation with neighboring Japan is important to respond to changes in the future radio environment such as 6G and satellite communications. He said the meeting improved understanding of key spectrum policies and WRC-27 agenda items and strengthened the basis for cooperation.