The Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) announced on July 27 that it has formed a dedicated task force to discuss the long-term development direction of the Asia-Pacific Internet Governance Academy (APIGA) in collaboration with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The task force was launched immediately following the closing ceremony of the 2026 APIGA held in Busan.
APIGA is a training program for internet governance professionals in the Asia-Pacific region, jointly operated by KISA and ICANN since 2016. ICANN, a nonprofit organization established in 1998, is responsible for the stable operation of global internet resources, including domain names, IP addresses, and root server systems.
As of this year, 397 young people from 32 countries have completed the APIGA program, with more than half of them actively working in various fields related to internet governance, including employment and internships at governance-related organizations and participation in internet governance forums. Recently, the hosting of local APIGA events in various countries has expanded opportunities for participation at national and regional levels.
As of July 2026, the countries hosting local APIGA events include Nepal, Taiwan, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Pakistan, South Korea, Australia, and Hong Kong. A positive feedback loop has also been established, with alumni participating as mentors in follow-up programs and as community leaders.
KISA and ICANN stated that, in light of APIGA's 10th anniversary, there is a need to comprehensively discuss the sustainability of the educational system, international scalability, stable operational systems, and alumni network management, which led to the formation of this dedicated task force. The task force includes key partner organizations such as the Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), DotAsia, and the Internet Society (ISOC).
Participating organizations plan to develop a long-term vision and specific implementation tasks for APIGA based on their respective experiences and expertise. The task force will operate from July to December 2026, with key deliverables including a 'Vision of APIGA' outlining future development directions and implementation tasks, as well as a plan for establishing a dedicated secretariat for the stable and sustainable operation of APIGA.
Lee Sang-jung, head of KISA, remarked, "APIGA has served as a representative capacity-building program that has opened pathways for young people in the Asia-Pacific region to enter the field of internet governance over the past decade. Through this task force, we will specify the long-term vision and implementation tasks to lead the next decade, and we will work together with partner organizations to ensure that APIGA grows into a sustainable global talent development platform."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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