TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKETS, INDUSTRY, AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN KOREA

Following successful deployment of basic telecommunications networks a nd services in the '70s and '80s, Korea's telecommunications sector ha s undergone significant environmental and technical changes. Among the se are the introduction of competition in the telecommunications marke t, the allowance of foreign ownership of telecommunication services, a nd the deployment of new networks and services, all within a new legal framework. As demands for more diversified and high-quality telecommu nications increase, Korea is now preparing for a major communication i nfrastructure that can serve as a common network foundation. Named the Korea information infrastructure, it is planned to provide a new netw ork foundation that will serve as the core of the information society in the 21st century. This article describes the current status of and future perspectives on the Korean telecommunications markets, industry , and infrastructure.