President Lee and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates agree on a charity partnership after president's retirement
At the meeting, President Lee thanked the Chairman for agreeing to be a global advisor, saying "I am grateful to you for accepting my proposal. Your support will be a great help." He responded that Korea is in a good position to further grow into an IT powerhouse. He went on to say that Korea's IT industry is making qualitative and quantitative progress in terms of technology and specialists, while the United States is witnessing a gradual shrinking in the number of cutting-edge professionals. He stressed that Korea has now secured a genuine opportunity to become a global IT leader and that the digital revolution should not be underestimated.
President Lee pointed out the possibility that people familiar with the Internet as well as digital and information technology are likely to enjoy an enhanced quality of life while the standard of living of those who are not familiar with these things will further deteriorate, thereby further widening the digital divide.
Bill Gates expressed complete agreement with the President. He added that he was keeping a close tabs on the example of Korea, which was able to lower service fees for the Internet through the development of technology for optical fiber communication networks, making it possible for an increasing number of people to gain access to the Internet.
For his part, President Lee made a forecast that continued endeavors to advance Internet technologies and lower service fees would ensure that the poor, the weak and the elderly, who are currently alienated from digital information, would be able to enjoy equal benefits of the Internet.
Over dinner, Gates said he had heard that President Lee showed great interest in charity and donated a great deal. He suggested that President Lee join his philanthropic work following the President's retirement. President Lee was pleased to accept his offer, saying, "That's a good idea."
The President said Africa and some other regions particularly need more attention and assistance. Gates explained Africa has a number of problems and explained why he had set up his foundation on that continent. He observed that it may be difficult for North Korea to have a full Internet service any time soon, but expressed hope it would be done sooner rather than later.
At the Cheong Wa Dae dinner, the two talked about tennis which is their favorite avocation. The Cheong Wa Dae meeting was a time of bonding between the two men who proved to have a similar outlook on life emphasizing pragmatism and leisure activities.
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