[ASEAN-Korea summit] Exhibition showcases public service innovations in Korea, ASEAN nations

BUSAN -- An exhibition in Busan on the sidelines of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit demonstrates how the governments of South Korea and the ASEAN member states are sharing their know-how in the area of public service.

The “ASEAN-ROK Exhibition on Public Service Innovation” opened Monday at Bexco Exhibition Center 2 and continues through Wednesday. The event comprises a Korean pavilion, which demonstrates Korea’s innovative tech-based public service systems; and an ASEAN pavilion, which showcases similar innovations in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. 

The Korean section highlights various systems the government has adopted over the years, including the forensics technologies that government bodies use. Some of the systems on display here have been in place for decades, such as the Ministry of Interior and Safety’s resident registration system, established in 1962. Others are more recent, such as the pangovernmental big data platform “Hye-Ahn” used by the National Information Resources Service.

Services developed in collaboration with private companies are also featured here, such as the Sentry ABC e-Gate system by SysOne -- literally, the gatekeeper of many buildings in the public sector -- and LX’s efforts to create smart cities in Busan and Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.

Rising awareness of public safety can be glimpsed here, with exhibits on investigation tech at disaster sites and evacuation programs in flooded areas by the National Disaster Management Research Institute. Also eye-catching was the virtual reality-based training program used by the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority, which allows users to experience every step in an emergency -- including escaping a sinking ship via a life raft -- in a virtual environment.

The ASEAN pavilion consists of booths that show the innovation process within the ASEAN member states’ civil service sectors. Laos demonstrated its civil service smart card, which functions as an ID, ATM and social security card that holders can also use to pay road tolls. Vietnam introduced its administrative reforms and targets through 2020. Indonesia showed off its SP4N-LAPOR! platform for handling public complaints, along with the country’s online copyright registry.

Other features at the exhibition include mobile applications and systems to assist the administrative process in Brunei; Cambodia’s government reform program; Malaysia’s modernization and management planning unit; Myanmar’s public service projects, such as one-stop shopping; and innovation plans from the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

By Yoon Min-sik (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)