The Republic of Korea marked a significant milestone in January 2025 with new legislation to ensure the digital future belongs to everyone.
The Digital Inclusion Act, set for full implementation in 2026, establishes a comprehensive legal framework to ensure that all members of society can participate meaningfully in an increasingly digital and automated environment.
Why it matters
This new framework represents more than domestic legislation. By embedding international cooperation and standards-based accessibility into law, the Republic of Korea has positioned itself to contribute actively to global discussions on inclusive digital development while also strengthening the protection of people’s rights at home.
The act defines digital inclusion as the creation of an environment in which all individuals can benefit from intelligent information technologies without discrimination or exclusion. Moving beyond fragmented and technology-specific measures, it addresses a wide range of digital interfaces, including websites, mobile applications, and increasingly prevalent unmanned terminals, such as digital kiosks.
Another notable feature is the emphasis on digital competency. The government is tasked with establishing Digital Competency Centres through public-private partnerships for inclusive and practical education, so that older persons, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups are equipped to navigate a digital-first society.
Connecting national policy with global standards
For the global digital community, the most significant aspect is the act’s explicit commitment to international cooperation. Article 26 mandates the establishment and continuous strengthening of cooperation mechanisms with international standard-setting organizations. Article 34 further calls on the state to contribute actively to the development of international standards related to digital inclusion technologies and services.
This legal framework will help ensure that domestic accessibility innovations in the Republic of Korea – such as AI-based voice guidance for kiosks – are aligned with globally recognized standards, including those developed within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The crucial ITU standard Y.4219 outlines how to build the user interface to make smart applications accessible. Global technical experts on ITU-T Study Group 20, responsible for Y.4219, continue examining accessibility requirements for different IoT uses.
By cementing our engagement in such processes, our Digital Inclusion Act also supports interoperability and consistency across borders.
Standards-based accessibility as a policy lever
The newly introduced Accessibility Quality Certification system promotes compliance with recognized standards to ensure technologies are accessible to everyone. By encouraging priority public procurement of certified products and services, this policy creates market incentives to address accessibility from the earliest stages of technology design and development.
From a standardization perspective, this approach aims to create a virtuous cycle. High-quality, standards-aligned solutions will firstly improve user experiences domestically and then, by being ready-made for international adoption, help boost digital inclusion globally.
In the digital era, accessibility is not optional. Our national legislation firmly reinforces the principle of including everyone in future-shaping opportunities.
As the Republic of Korea puts its Digital Inclusion Act into full effect, our experiences and lessons may offer valuable reference points for the international community.
Through platforms such as the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) and continued collaboration across borders, we can contribute to shared progress and help the whole world achieve inclusive digital transformation.
Source: https://www.itu.int/hub/2026/02/republic-of-korea-digital-inclusion-act/
