Indonesia, South Korea sign agreements on minerals, tech, finance

Indonesia, South Korea sign agreements on minerals, tech, finance

The two countries were also expected to advance defense ties, as well as strengthen cooperation in new growth areas such as artificial intelligence and nuclear power.

<Indonesia, South Korea sign agreements on minerals, tech, finance - Economy - The Jakarta Post>

Lessons from Korea

Lessons from Korea

Our political culture often permits leaders to evade accountability

<https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2024/12/21/lessons-from-korea.html>

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(6)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

There are yet pending issues to tackle in startup fever in Indonesia. Poor IT infrastructures in non-urban areas, shortage of high-skilled workforces and widespread financial illiteracy have taken roots in many parts of the nation. This is where digital cooperation between Korea and Indonesia can take a meaningful step forward. 

What Korea has experienced in the last 20 years in becoming a global digital leader can be valuable asset to the Indonesian journey heading for the digital society. Beginning with promising fields including the fintech and the education, now is the right time for young startups in both countries to join hands with each other and hit the digital road hard.

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(1)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

Indonesia, the largest economy in ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations), is one of the key counterparts of the New Southern Policy initiated by the Korean government.  Bilateral relations between Korea and Indonesia have been continuously improved and were finally elevated to a special strategic partnership in 2017. 

Now the two countries have their 75th Independence Day, Korea on Aug 15th and Indonesia on Aug 17th, come just around the corner. Digital cooperation spearheaded by startups in both countries can be a new topic of the time when the deadly COVID-19 pandemic has further spurred the necessity of the digitalization of the Indonesian society.

The establishment of the AEC and its implication for South Korea(9)

The establishment of the AEC and its implication for South Korea

For instance, Japan has been striving to enhance its clout on the AEC by devoting itself to heavy investment on the infrastructure and key industries. Korean business people navigating new growth engines have unanimously pointed out that Japanese business presence is dominant in the region. 

Moreover, China is speeding up recently by utilizing its extensive networks across the region. China has maintained robust retail and wholesale channels in most part of the ASEAN since around the 16~17th century when the Western forces first embarked on their rush to Southeast Asia.

 

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(8)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

What Korea has experienced in the last 20 years in becoming a global digital leader can be valuable asset to the Indonesian journey heading for the digital society. 

Beginning with promising fields including the fintech and the education, now is the right time for young startups in both countries to join hands with each other and hit the digital road hard.

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(3)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

Consequently, as many as 11 unicorns, privately held startup companies valued at over $1 billion, have emerged from various industries such as the mobility, the e-payment and the online game.

It is Singapore and Indonesia which has been spotlighted the most for the startup frenzy in Southeast Asia. The two countries have been in the forefront of the development of the digital economy in the region.

High Time for Korean Startups to Ride on Digital Fever in Southeast Asia(5)

High Time for Korean Startups to Ride on Digital Fever in Southeast Asia

As centered on Indonesia and Vietnam, two countries in the region respectively representing the maritime and the continental Southeast Asia, news of Korean venture capitals eagerly exploring lucrative investment opportunities are heard now and then. 

Why startup markets in Southeast Asia are much spotlighted? High growth potential in the region would be singled out above all things. The number of internet users in key countries of Southeast Asia like Vietnam and the Philippines has been increasing the fastest in the world.

 

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(3)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

Consequently, as many as 11 unicorns, privately held startup companies valued at over $1 billion, have emerged from various industries such as the mobility, the e-payment and the online game. It is Singapore and Indonesia which has been spotlighted the most for the startup frenzy in Southeast Asia. 

The two countries have been in the forefront of the development of the digital economy in the region. Singapore has been recognized to incubate the advent of the digital era with its strong commitment to innovation while Indonesia has been viewed to beef up the digital fever based upon its presence as the most sizeable playground. 

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(4)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

The fact that 9 out of 11 unicorns in Southeast Asia are headquartered either in Singapore or in Indonesia proves the significance of the two countries in the ASEAN digital economy. It seems that Indonesia has caught eyes of the global investment experts more actively than Singapore in the regional competition of startup waves. 

The potential for growth in the country's digital industry has made it attractive to investors and entrepreneurs alike. Actually, a growing number of venture capitals and startup accelerators have sensed exceptional business opportunities of Indonesia especially in terms of the market size. 

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(7)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

Poor IT infrastructures in non-urban areas, shortage of high-skilled work forces and widespread financial illiteracy have taken roots in many parts of the nation. This is where digital cooperation between Korea and Indonesia can take a meaningful step forward. 

What Korea has experienced in the last 20 years in becoming a global digital leader can be valuable asset to the Indonesian journey heading for the digital society. Beginning with promising fields including the fintech and the education, now is the right time for young startups in both countries to join hands with each other and hit the digital road hard.

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(5)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

This favorable viewpoint has led to produce thousands of startups and 5 unicorns across the country. Against this background, it may not be too much to say that Indonesia will remain as a critical pillar of the regional digital ecosystem. 

As the world's biggest archipelago with 17,000 or so islands, Indonesia has been comprehended to have little choices but to rely upon online or mobile platforms powered by ICT (Information and Communications Technology) to have more people advantaged from the convenience and efficiency of the digital economy.

 

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(3)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

Consequently, as many as 11 unicorns, privately held startup companies valued at over $1 billion, have emerged from various industries such as the mobility, the e-payment and the online game. It is Singapore and Indonesia which has been spotlighted the most for the startup frenzy in Southeast Asia. 

The two countries have been in the forefront of the development of the digital economy in the region. Singapore has been recognized to incubate the advent of the digital era with its strong commitment to innovation while Indonesia has been viewed to beef up the digital fever based upon its presence as the most sizeable playground.

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(1)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

Indonesia, the largest economy in ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations), is one of the key counterparts of the New Southern Policy initiated by the Korean government.  

Bilateral relations between Korea and Indonesia have been continuously improved and were finally elevated to a special strategic partnership in 2017. Now the two countries have their 75th Independence Day, Korea on Aug 15th and Indonesia on Aug 17th, come just around the corner.

High Time for Korean Startups to Ride on Digital Fever in Southeast Asia(1)

High Time for Korean Startups to Ride on Digital Fever in Southeast Asia

Startup boom can be named as one of the hot issues in Southeast Asia this year. This may not sound familiar to most Koreans except for those involved in the IT industry or venture capital sectors. However, startup markets across Southeast Asia have been rapidly gaining momentums. 

In fact, locally born leaders of digital economy such as Grab in Malaysia which recently acquired the Southeast Asian business unit of Uber have been acclaimed for changing the conventional industrial map in the region.

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(7)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

What COVID-19 has showed to the Indonesian society has served a wake-up call to this irreversible trend of the digital Indonesia. There are yet pending issues to tackle in startup fever in Indonesia. 

Poor IT infrastructures in non-urban areas, shortage of high-skilled work forces and widespread financial illiteracy have taken roots in many parts of the nation. This is where digital cooperation between Korea and Indonesia can take a meaningful step forward.

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(3)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

Consequently, as many as 11 unicorns, privately held startup companies valued at over $1 billion, have emerged from various industries such as the mobility, the e-payment and the online game. It is Singapore and Indonesia which has been spotlighted the most for the startup frenzy in Southeast Asia.

The two countries have been in the forefront of the development of the digital economy in the region. Singapore has been recognized to incubate the advent of the digital era with its strong commitment to innovation while Indonesia has been viewed to beef up the digital fever based upon its presence as the most sizeable playground.

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia(7)

High Time for Digital Cooperation between Korea and Indonesia

What Korea has experienced in the last 20 years in becoming a global digital leader can be valuable asset to the Indonesian journey heading for the digital society. 

Beginning with promising fields including the fintech and the education, now is the right time for young startups in both countries to join hands with each other and hit the digital road hard.

High Time for Korean Startups to Ride on Digital Fever in Southeast Asia(5)

High Time for Korean Startups to Ride on Digital Fever in Southeast Asia

This is no exception to Korean investment firms. As centered on Indonesia and Vietnam, two countries in the region respectively representing the maritime and the continental Southeast Asia, news of Korean venture capitals eagerly exploring lucrative investment opportunities are heard now and then. 

Why startup markets in Southeast Asia are much spotlighted? High growth potential in the region would be singled out above all things. The number of internet users in key countries of Southeast Asia like Vietnam and the Philippines has been increasing the fastest in the world.

Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea(11)

Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea 

My e-book on the Korean vocational education system, mainly featuring 6 exemplary high schools including Induk Technical Highschool and Seoul Girls' Commercial Highschool was published last June. Titled 'Should Go to a College?', the book has been provoking nationwide sensation so far. Please find the attached cover page and English summary as additional documentary evidence.

Now I'm communicating with a Japanese publishing agency, 'CUON(www.cuon.jp)' to have my e-book published in Japanese language soon.