Yoon Meets Science and Technology Advisory Committee, Promises 'Focused Investment in Core Technologies'

Lunch meeting with members of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council immediately after the tour
Promised budget and execution flexibility while emphasizing strengthening future generation capabilities

President Yoon Suk-yeol met with members of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council on the 27th to exchange opinions on the direction of R&D (Research and Development) innovation. President Yoon emphasized strengthening the capabilities of future generations and promised focused investment in fundamental and core technologies.

On the afternoon of the same day, President Yoon held a luncheon meeting with the members of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council at the Yongsan Presidential Office, sharing opinions on the direction of R&D innovation with the newly formed 2nd term members. The National Science and Technology Advisory Council has been established as a permanent body since 1991 under the Constitution (Article 127) and the National Science and Technology Advisory Council Act, responsible for advising the president on science and technology matters and deliberating on major policies. Under the Yoon administration, 21 advisory and deliberation sessions have been conducted, including selecting 12 national strategic technologies over the past year and reviewing the 2024 R&D budget.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a speech at the luncheon meeting with private members of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council held on the 27th at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

At this meeting, President Yoon listened to opinions on R&D operation plans aimed at nurturing the world's best future talents and attracting global talents. Amid significant concerns and resistance on the ground regarding next year’s R&D budget cuts, President Yoon personally conveyed the government’s commitment to support, emphasizing that this is part of structural reforms to secure R&D budget investment.

Earlier, last week, President Yoon met with top scholars from the UK and Korea at the Royal Society in the UK, stating, "National R&D funding should be focused on fundamental core technologies and next-generation technologies that are difficult for the private sector and market to invest in," and added, "I have become even more convinced that expanding global joint research and human exchanges is essential to enhance the capabilities of future generations."

He also said, "For the Republic of Korea to escape the quagmire of low growth and make a new leap forward, we must shift to a 'First Mover Strategy,' investing in innovative and challenging research aiming to be the world’s best. We need to reform outdated regulations and systems by simplifying preliminary feasibility studies and making budget execution more flexible to ensure timely support for research."

Meanwhile, President Yoon presented appointment letters to six newly appointed members, including Baek Won-pil, Principal Researcher at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The meeting was attended by Lee Woo-il, Vice Chairman of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council, and 20 private members. Government officials present included ministers from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of SMEs and Startups, as well as the Chief Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs.