SEOUL, KOREA - The Korea Software Enterprise Association(KOSEA) has appointed Yeo Chan-ki, CEO of FORCS the new chairman. “The association will provide unstinting support for Korean SW companies to grow into global companies,” said Chairman. Yeo, adding that, “We will make the utmost efforts to play our role in Korea’s SW industries.”
He also mentioned the amendment of SW Industry Promotion Act, which has been recently passed by the government. “The approval of the amended act follows the government’s strategy to establish SW ecosystem based on co-existence and development. As a result, the center of gravity in the Korean SW market will shift from major corporations to specialized SW firms,” according to his prediction. Accordingly, Mr. Yeo is planning to actively support the specialized SW firms currently belonging to KOSEA, in addition to “putting efforts into creating a SW industry ecosystem which will accommodate to the co-development strategy this year.”
He has selected three core projects – namely, SW specialist company certificate system, establishment of PMO(Project Management Office)-specialized companies, and professional training program. The SW specialist company certificate system is designed to authenticate companies based on certain criteria such as the firm’s reliability and expertise, aiming to consolidate the stability of the public informatization project. The establishment of PMO-specialized companies is currently being discussed in order to lay out plans for the project within the year. Furthermore, the association is planning to battle the chronic problem within the industry – that is, lack of qualified professionals – by providing a training program as well as cooperation with universities. Mr. Yeo’s plan also includes adjustments of maintenance fees for domestic SW and activation of commercial SW application.
“It is a step forward that the government is looking to improve the SW industry ecosystem, but they should also prepare policies for SW firms to see the benefits from such efforts” Mr. Yeo said. He emphasized that, “The government must actively utilize Korean commercial SW and provide companies with adequate maintenance fees, in order for the SW industry to continue growing.” KOSEA, led by Mr. Yeo, is contributing to the national economy by discussing the development of SW industries, promoting the use of quality SW products, and also fostering SW development firms. The association’s projects in progress this year range from proposing government policies to participating in subcommittees and communities, providing training or seminar opportunities, helping to resolve difficult issues of the industries, supplying information and data, and enhancing international cooperation projects. Mr. Yeo also revealed that the association, as part of the international cooperation projects, is maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with Changchun city, China, as the association is currently working to match Korean SW firms with local companies based in the city. Changchun city has expressed a favorable attitude towards Korean IT companies and, therefore, its wish to build a cooperative relationship with them should prove mutually beneficial. The discussion with the Chinese city also encompassed the ways to bridge 150,000 science and engineering students from Changchun city with the association. “Changchun city wishes to incorporate IT industries with their plan to become the center of North East Asia,” Mr. Yeo explained. “They want many Korean IT companies to come to the city and the association decided to introduce SW solutions to our member companies.“ He added, “The association will provide multifold support so that Korea’s small and medium SW companies have a chance to become more globally renowned.”
