Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT Gives Semiconductor Lecture to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Staff

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] On the morning of the 15th, Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT gave a lecture on semiconductors to Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees at the Government Seoul Office.

Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT is delivering opening remarks at the meeting with CEOs of the three major telecommunications companies held on the afternoon of the 11th at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

This is the first time Minister Lee has given a lecture to employees of a specific government ministry.

Minister Lee is one of the top authorities in the domestic semiconductor field, having served as the director of the Semiconductor Joint Research Center at Seoul National University.

He lectured on recent issues and trends related to semiconductors, key concepts of semiconductors, external strategies, and the importance of nurturing specialized personnel, focusing on future science and technology and semiconductors, and took time to answer questions from Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

The lecture was hosted by Minister Park Jin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and attended by about 200 key executives and staff, including the first and second vice ministers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The lecture was arranged for Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees considering that advanced technologies, including semiconductors, have recently become core topics in economic security diplomacy.

During the Q&A session of the lecture, reasons why semiconductors are important in the US-China competition and related trends were also mentioned.

In his welcoming remarks, Minister Park Jin explained the purpose of organizing the lecture, stating, “To proactively and preemptively respond to strategic and geopolitical challenges surrounding advanced technologies, it is important to strengthen the capabilities of diplomats.”

Earlier, President Yoon Suk-yeol also emphasized the security and strategic value of the semiconductor industry at last month’s Cabinet meeting and reportedly instructed heads of non-economic ministries, such as the Minister of Justice and the Chief of the Legislative Affairs Office, to study semiconductors.