Cultural data is known as the crude oil of the 21st century. The Korea Culture Information Service Agency (KCISA) is a public institution that connects culture, people and information. KCISA collects data and analyses it. KCISA has worked hard to establish a cultural information service and cultural policies that match regional characteristics through big data analysis. CBT reporters met with the head of the Korea Culture Information Service Agency, Lee Hyun-woong. He is a proud alumnus of CBNU, and he was a president of the Student Council.


1. We heard that you served as a president of the Student Council of CBNU. What is your fondest memory from that time? 

  As I’m having an interview now, this situation reminds me of the time when I was interviewed at a university assembly meeting in 1991. When I was in school, students demonstrated a lot. At that time, we were under the military government of Roh Tae-woo, and we wanted to create a country where the sovereign power resided with the people. I tried hard to lead the movement and build a better country. I remember one day when the students all got together and demonstrated at CBNU’s front vacant lot. I was sent to jail for two years for protesting. Also, I was expelled but later readmitted to CBNU. I had majored in urban engineering at CBNU. However, through that experience, I felt that I couldn’t change society by studying engineering. Therefore, I studied urban administration at Seoul City University to learn about the science of public administration. I got a job at KDI (Korea Development Institute), and I researched urban development and urban economics.

2. Dr. Lee, you majored in urban engineering at CBNU. We are curious about why you chose that major.

  When I was a child, I lived in the countryside. Surprisingly, the place where I lived was the historical discovery site of the world’s first book that used movable metal type called Jikjisimcheyojeol. The discovery site was a sweet potato field where I used to play, and signs reading ‘Reconstruction’ were hung all around the surrounding area after it was discovered. That was the first time I’d ever heard about redevelopment. People say I look like a Seoul prim, but actually, I am a hillbilly. When I was young, my family was poor, and we were kicked out of our home because of the redevelopment. I wondered why we had to be kicked out of our home suddenly. After that, I became interested in urban planning and majored in urban engineering at CBNU.

3. What does the Korea Culture Information Service Agency do?

  The Korea Culture and Information Service Agency was established in 2002, and we celebrated its 17th anniversary this year. KCISA is an agency under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and its primary focus is cultural information services. You probably can’t understand culture information services easily. Simply put, it’s about spreading information concerning tangible and intangible cultural assets using digital technology.
  The Korea Culture and Information Service Agency processes, accumulates and distributes various cultural data and makes cultural data available to everyone. KCISA works hard to enhance Korea’s cultural competitiveness. Currently, we are managing the Korean Cultural Portal as our information delivery system.

4. CBT wants to hear the details of KCISA’s work. 
 
  At first, I came to KCISA to help build a big data platform. We have worked on big data projects since last year, and we won first prize in the Big Data Platform Contest. Through this contest, KCISA is now being supported by the government, and it is building a big data platform worth about 25 billion won. Once we have the big data platform, many people will be able to benefit from it. Based on scientific evidence, we can build a system that allocates national funds to people who need help.

5. Dr. Lee, can you explain about big data analysis?
 
  Big data analysis means gathering and analyzing the information and finding meaningful results from the data that a lot of people generate in daily life. One example of big data is collecting information from SNS. For example, through big data analysis, we can see what kinds of cultural life people observe on Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day). Also, we can learn people’s preferences. Big data analysis can be used in many aspects of our lives because it provides scientific insight into our actions.
  These days, Hallyu (Korean Wave) is very popular. Through big data analysis, we can see which dramas people like and why some singers are popular. If we take advantage of this, we will be able to take more initiative so that our culture will be more popular and readily available globally.

6. Dr. Lee, we would like to hear about your future plans.

  Since becoming the head of the KCISA, I have worked very busily. As a result, half of the term has passed by quickly. In May, our company, KCISA, was selected as the best consortium in the culture and media sector at the Big Data Platform Building Contest that the Ministry of Science and ICT(MSIT) sponsored. This year, I’m going to focus my efforts on strategies for the commercialization of big data platforms. Also, I recently was appointed as the head of the Chungbuk Disabled Football Association. Through this, I am planning to return to Cheongju to take a new first step as a local worker.

By Baek Han-na
backna@cbnu.ac.kr
By Nam Min-woo
mw38@cbnu.ac.kr