Korea Takes the Helm in Setting Global Metaverse Standards
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has marked a decisive moment in the race to define the metaverse’s future. At the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 6 meeting held in London this June, the Metaverse Advisory Group was formally established, following a Korean proposal. Chaired by principal researcher Hyun Wook, this newly formed body will guide international standardisation for metaverse communications, cementing Korea’s role at the forefront of emerging digital infrastructure.
Industry insiders view this as more than a bureaucratic development. It’s a strategic foothold in one of the most contested technology frontiers. As Hyun Wook explained: “Our goal is to ensure that metaverse communication standards evolve in step with technological innovation, enabling interoperability and strengthening industrial competitiveness worldwide.”
Why Metaverse Standards Matter
Although the metaverse has experienced its fair share of hype and setbacks, it remains a critical component of the next-generation internet, bridging physical and digital realms. Without robust standards, the promise of seamless interaction between virtual environments risks being undermined by fragmentation.
Currently, a mix of official bodies such as ISO, IEC, and ITU-T, along with industry-led groups like the Metaverse Standards Forum (MSF), Open Metaverse Alliance (OMA3), and IEEE SA, are working on interoperability frameworks. These parallel efforts highlight a competitive landscape where the first to establish widely accepted standards could dominate market influence.
Korea’s leadership in this space builds on decades of contributions to global ICT standards, spanning telecommunications, broadcasting, and satellite technologies. The new Metaverse Advisory Group will act as a ‘control tower’, defining priorities, drafting roadmaps, and forging partnerships across different standardisation ecosystems.
Strategic Objectives of the Advisory Group
The group’s mission encompasses four core objectives:
- Identifying new standardisation tasks relevant to metaverse communication.
- Setting technical priorities to align with emerging market needs.
- Developing comprehensive international roadmaps to coordinate global adoption.
- Building collaboration frameworks with other standards organisations.
Given the rapid evolution of metaverse technologies, these tasks demand agility and foresight. The group aims to ensure that its standards are not only technically sound but also commercially viable, paving the way for global licensing opportunities.
Experienced Leadership at the Helm
Hyun Wook’s appointment as Convenor draws on his experience as Associate Rapporteur for ITU-T SG21 Q9, where he has worked extensively on metaverse and multimedia frameworks. His leadership is expected to bring continuity between ITU-T and ISO/IEC standardisation efforts.
This London meeting also marked the first time Dr. Kang Shin Gak chaired SC 6, following his election in November 2024. Dr. Kang’s résumé is formidable: Chair of the ITU-T Focus Group on Metaverse (FG-MV), leader of the Joint Coordination Activities on Metaverse Standardisation (JCA-MV), and head of WP4 within ITU-T SG 21. His track record includes overseeing the creation of 52 pre-standardisation deliverables for the metaverse.
Deliverables to Raise the Bar
One tangible achievement from the meeting was the adoption of a template for Preliminary Working Item (PWI) study reports, spearheaded by Korea through the SC 6/AHG 4 ad hoc group. This template will standardise documentation practices, improving quality and consistency across the board.
ISO/IEC JTC 1’s subcommittee SC 6 focuses on telecommunications and information exchange between systems, covering NFC, future networks, UAV communications, and more. Dr. Kang’s dual roles as SC 6 Chair and a leading figure in ITU-T metaverse initiatives offer Korea a unique advantage in aligning technical standards across multiple platforms.
A Growing Industrial Role
As ETRI’s Assistant Vice President of Standards Research Division, Lee Seung Yun, noted: “The metaverse is expanding beyond entertainment into various industrial applications. The creation of the Advisory Group positions Korea to lead in setting the rules of engagement for this global market.”
Major tech giants – Nvidia, Google, Apple, and Meta among them – continue to invest heavily in core metaverse technologies, despite recent cooling in public enthusiasm. This aligns with the typical lifecycle of emerging technologies, where early volatility gives way to market consolidation.
Market Outlook and Growth Potential
According to Grand View Research, the metaverse market is set to grow from $105.4 billion in 2024 to $936.6 billion by 2030, representing a staggering CAGR of 46.4%. This growth will be fuelled by advancements in VR and AR, the rise of digital asset trading, and expanded applications in gaming, education, entertainment, and manufacturing.
When coupled with generative AI, the metaverse is expected to evolve into a more intelligent and autonomous ecosystem, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of the future internet and a driver of both national and corporate competitiveness.
Korea’s Next Moves
ETRI intends to continue leveraging its leadership positions within ISO/IEC JTC 1 and ITU-T to secure international standards in key areas such as platform interworking and virtual convergence service interoperability. These efforts aim to boost Korea’s influence in shaping global technology frameworks while enhancing its industrial competitiveness.
ETRI’s leadership has already demonstrated the power of coordinated standardisation, as evidenced by the FG-MV’s pre-standardisation achievements. With the formation of the Metaverse Advisory Group, Korea now holds a critical vantage point in the ongoing development of one of the most transformative technologies of our time.
A Future Shaped by Standards
While the metaverse remains in its formative years, the groundwork laid by bodies like the Metaverse Advisory Group will determine how inclusive, interoperable, and commercially viable the technology becomes.
Korea’s decisive role in this process ensures it will remain a key architect of the digital landscapes to come.
