Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 56
56
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 192
Bilateral cooperation frameworks and agreements with South Korea and Singapore welcomed
Conclusion
We also welcome the signing of the UK-Republic of Korea bilateral framework of cooperation in June 2022 and the July 2022 data adequacy agreement signed between the UK and the Republic of Korea, as well as the February 2022 Digital Economy Agreement between the UK and Singapore.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's welcome, highlighting the signing of the UK-ROK Downing Street Accord, the launch of a new Digital Partnership to strengthen cooperation, and the data bridge regulation with the Republic of Korea coming into effect in December 2022.
Paragraph Reference:
192
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
142. The Government agrees with the Committee’s conclusion. 2023 marked 140 years of UK and Republic of Korea diplomatic relations. The signing of the UK-ROK Downing Street Accord in November last year builds on our existing bilateral framework and will put the UK ahead of European comparators in engaging this tech superpower. The UK-ROK Bilateral Framework for Closer Cooperation, agreed in June 2022, committed both partners to a comprehensive new Digital Partnership. This Partnership, launched during the State Visit, will provide a structured framework to strengthen bilateral cooperation in data, facilitate deeper cooperation across various technology themes including AI, future telecoms and cyber security. These developments help to formalise and structure our political and economic engagement and are tangible advancements of the UK’s Indo- Pacific approach. 143. The data bridge regulation (previously referred to as data adequacy) made by the UK Government and the Republic of Korea came into effect on 19 December 2022. The Government announced nine priority countries for adequacy by the UK in August of 2021, which were: Republic of Korea, Australia, Colombia, Dubai International Financial Centre, Singapore, United States, Brazil, Kenya and Indonesia. 144. The UK is undertaking a robust and detailed approach with all adequacy assessments, as it has done with the Republic of Korea, to ensure any future decision meets the high standards of protection required for the transfer of UK citizens’ data.