Jang Seok-young, Vice Minister of Science and ICT, Explores COVID-19 Overcoming Strategies with Gumi ICT Companies

Jang Seok-young, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT (center in the photo), is touring the IT Medical Convergence Technology Center within Geumo Technovalley in Sinpyeong-dong, Gumi, on the 8th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Young-wook] Gumi City announced on the 8th that Jang Seok-young, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, visited the KUMO Techno Valley and held an on-site meeting with local ICT companies.

At this meeting, Vice Minister Jang received a report on the industrial status of Gumi, which is experiencing difficulties due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), and empathized with the impact on Gumi City, where the proportion of the electrical and electronics industry is high. He decided to actively seek ways to overcome the challenges together with local businesspeople.

Gumi Mayor Jang Se-yong proposed to the Ministry of Science and ICT a new project of 27 billion KRW for the establishment of a hologram device development support center and 36 billion KRW for the designation of Gumi as a small but strong research and development special zone. He also requested that 10 billion KRW of national funds be reflected in the 2021 budget for three ongoing projects: '5G Testbed Construction,' 'Operation of 5G-based VR·AR Device Development Support Center,' and 'Development of Hologram-based Non-contact Non-destructive Internal and External Deformation and Defect Detection Technology.'

At the meeting, businesspeople from leading Gumi ICT companies such as Suntech Co., Ltd., Wise Dream Co., Ltd., Onface SDC Co., Ltd., Daon Co., Ltd., and Necon Co., Ltd. participated and engaged in in-depth discussions about the difficulties faced in the industrial field after COVID-19 and government-level support measures.

Vice Minister Jang said, "We will seriously respond to the voices from the field that ICT companies are experiencing due to COVID-19," and added, "We will promptly review realistic government-level support measures that are urgently needed by companies."

Mayor Jang said, "Although there were many difficulties last year, such as Japan's export restrictions, the trust and cooperation between the government and the private sector turned the crisis into an opportunity," and added, "Although the reality is harsh due to COVID-19, the city will spare no support so that Gumi's ICT companies can secure industrial competitiveness with a new paradigm and turn this into a growth opportunity."