The government honoured individuals and organisations that contributed to digital inclusion and the spread of a culture of safe use in the era of a major shift to artificial intelligence (AI).

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency (NIA) held the 39th Information Culture Month ceremony on Tuesday at Nuri Dream Square in Sangam-dong, Seoul.

This year’s ceremony was held under the theme “AI for all, a healthy and safe digital culture”. It focused on creating an environment in which everyone can enjoy the benefits of AI and digital technology without discrimination. About 200 people attended, including Deputy Prime Minister and Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈), standing commissioner Ko Min-soo (고민수) of the Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission, NIA President Kim Hyung-chul (김형철), recipients of information culture awards and officials from digital inclusion companies.

The government presented awards to individuals and organisations that contributed to creating an information culture education environment and improving access for digitally vulnerable groups. Honourees included 1 order of merit, 1 medal, 6 presidential citations, 6 prime ministerial citations and 45 deputy prime ministerial citations.

The Hongjo Order of Service Merit was awarded to Yang Hyung-jin (양형진), principal of Seoul National University College of Education-affiliated Elementary School. He spent more than 40 years in education, promoting AI lead schools, operating an intelligent science lab model school and providing AI and digital training for teachers.

The Industrial Service Merit Medal went to Kong Sun-mi (공선미), a senior researcher at the Korea Federation of the Blind. She established in the field a user-centred accessibility evaluation that reflects the real digital service use environment of people with disabilities and older adults.

Haengbok ICT, which received a presidential citation, built a model to train and employ digitally vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities and older adults as IT professionals. Kwon Oh-seol (권오설), chief executive of NextG and a prime ministerial citation recipient, was recognised for developing a smartphone programme for older people with visual impairments and a barrier-free mobile platform.

The venue also featured booths where visitors could experience digital inclusion technologies and AI risks. Introduced were an AI sign language translation solution that converts voice and text information into a 3D sign language avatar, a voice guidance service for people with visual impairments, a barrier-free kiosk and a robot photo service. A hands-on programme highlighting the risks of deepfake technology was also operated.

During June, Information Culture Month, the government will run programmes including a “Smartphone Proper Use Day Campaign”, “visiting counselling centres” and a “healthy use practice challenge” at 18 Smart쉼 Centers nationwide for children, teenagers and parents.

Bae said that in a period of major AI transition, it is important to steer new technology in the direction people want. He said the government will open, together with the public, a future in which South Korea becomes a protagonist in changing the AI and digital world in a healthy way.

Kim, the NIA president, said that for technological development to lead to true value, its benefits must spread evenly to all people. He said realising an inclusive digital society where everyone can fully enjoy the results of digital innovation and no one is left behind is the core value of Information Culture Month.

Ko, a standing commissioner at the Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission, said he would work to spread sound digital ethics and a culture of responsible use across society through various user protection campaigns. He said he would cooperate with the Science Ministry and other related agencies so all people can enjoy digital benefits fairly and safely.