Introduction

The foundation for South Korea’s remarkable digital development over the past four decades was laid in the 1980s. That reality led many who are familiar with Korea’s situation to refer to the “telecommunications revolution of the 1980s.” The Telecommunications Policy Office, established on January 1, 1982, was given responsibility for formulating and promoting telecommunications policies in the public interest. The business operations in Korean telecommunications were bolstered by the establishment of the Korea Telecommunications Authority and Data Communications Corporation of Korea Corporation. In retrospect, the domestic development of the Time Division Exchange electronic switching system is regarded as the most outstanding achievement in Korea’s telecommunications sector. The development of Korea’s telecommunications sector required a tremendous investment. During the formulation of basic plans for telecommunications development in the early 1980s two measures were taken to guarantee a stable investment in telecommunications infrastructure.