Inter-ministerial Policy Coordination for Digital Content Technology Development: Korean and Japanese Cases

This study identifies and evaluates inter-ministerial coordination for developing digital content technology in Korea and Japan. It is conducted through a comparative analysis between Korean and Japanese governmental organizations and their decision making process. Media content had been regulated or promoted by ministries involving culture in both countries. The digitalization of traditional media, however, blurred boundaries between the cultural, technological, and industrial spheres, so ministries involving science and technology, economy and trade, or foreign affairs started to promote digital content technology in the late 1990s. This has been the cause of conflicts among ministries and sometimes led to policy duplication, which in turn weakens policy effectiveness. The competition and coordination of ministries and agencies can be seen through establishing or amending related laws, organizations, and programs. Structural holes are founded in the networks drawn among governmental agencies in charge of digital content, particularly in the field of intellectual property in Korea and online distribution technology in Japan.