[Reporter’s Notebook] Science and ICT Committee Audit Turned into an R&D Black Hole

"This year, I plan to ask questions on topics other than telecommunications. There hasn't been any change compared to last year."

When asked what issues they intended to raise ahead of the National Assembly audit, a member of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee replied this way. Although household communication costs and 5G quality are closely related to people's livelihoods and the ICT sector is central to the Ministry of Science and ICT's policies, there was generally little interest.

Photo by Suyeon Oh, Industrial IT Department

The black hole that absorbed all the pressing livelihood issues was the cut to next year's research and development (R&D) budget. Of course, R&D is a critical issue tied to national competitiveness. However, opposition party lawmakers focused on blaming the administration, while ruling party lawmakers concentrated on defending it. Their underlying desire to assert their presence ahead of the general election was clearly visible. Aside from the R&D budget questions that emerged by the evening of the 11th, other inquiries could be counted on one hand. But is ICT really less important than political strife?

The reason ICT issues have become sidelined is not because they are less important. They are too old and entrenched to spark confrontation, and as recurring issues, it is difficult to assert presence as much as in the R&D budget battles. More than four years have passed since the commercialization of 5G, yet many users still complain about poor coverage. The public wonders when they will be able to use 5G, which is 20 times faster. The expensive device costs and household communication fees are burdensome, and while people want to use affordable budget phones, they find them inconvenient. Discussions to establish global competitiveness are also accumulating. Amid the surge of generative artificial intelligence (AI) such as Chat GPT, it is urgent to prepare related regulations and development plans. As global online video services (OTT) intensify their offensive, securing competitiveness for domestic platforms is also necessary.

Because truly important issues are sidelined, the Science and ICT Committee's audit spins its wheels every year. The ICT issues deemed urgent last year remain unchanged this year. This is because, in the past, continuous disruptions of meetings, adjournments within 20 minutes, and repeated half-hearted sessions prevented proper discussions as each side tried to take the lead. Even before the audit, political strife prevented the confirmation of the witness list, resulting in a half audit focusing only on government agencies. Although there was early agreement to summon executives from the three major telecom companies and portals, political struggles continue over sensitive witnesses.

The pledge to conduct a livelihood-focused audit rings hollow. The focus remains solely on gaining political control and showing presence. With comprehensive audits scheduled for the 26th and 27th, there is still a chance to make up for lost ground. It is hoped that before the comprehensive audit, the ruling and opposition parties will agree to summon only the essential witnesses. And it is expected that the audit will lead to policy changes that the public can truly feel, instead of political strife.