Yoon: "R&D Funding Should Focus on Core and Next-Generation Technologies" (Comprehensive)

Lunch Meeting with National Science and Technology Advisory Council Members Immediately After the Overseas Visit
President Yoon Emphasizes 'First Mover' Strategy to Escape Low Growth Trap
Promises Budget and Execution Flexibility While Mentioning Strengthening Future Generation Capabilities

President Yoon Suk-yeol met with members of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council on the 27th and stated, "The nation's R&D (Research and Development) funding should be focused on fundamental core technologies and challenging next-generation technologies that are difficult for the private sector and market to invest in or take on." Amid significant concerns and opposition from the field regarding next year's R&D budget cuts, President Yoon personally conveyed the government's commitment to support, emphasizing the need for flexibility in budget execution and improvements in the equipment procurement system.

On the afternoon of the same day, President Yoon held a luncheon meeting with members of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council at the Yongsan Presidential Office, exchanging views on the direction of R&D innovation with the newly formed second-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, the council has selected 12 national strategic technologies over the past year and conducted a total of 21 advisory and deliberation sessions, including reviewing the 2024 R&D budget.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is stepping down from the podium after delivering opening remarks at the luncheon meeting with private members of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council held at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul on the 27th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

At this meeting, President Yoon mentioned the 'First Mover' strategy aimed at escaping the low-growth trap and achieving a new leap forward. He argued that the national R&D system must also shift in line with this direction, elaborating, "We must invest in innovative and challenging research that aims to be world-class to accelerate our future growth and prosperity."

Regarding the establishment of a Korea-UK science and technology cooperation system during his state visit to the United Kingdom last week, he explained, "Ultimately, this means reforming our R&D system and deregulating to make the Republic of Korea a global human and material hub for scientific and technological research." He also urged the nurturing of future talent. President Yoon said, "I ask the council members to continue to pool your experience and wisdom so that our R&D can become a support system that cultivates the world's best future talent and attracts global talent."

Earlier, during his visit to the Royal Society in the UK last week, President Yoon met with top scholars from both the UK and Korea and stated, "For the Republic of Korea to escape the low-growth trap and achieve a new leap forward, we must shift to a 'First Mover' strategy, investing in innovative and challenging research aiming to be world-class, simplifying preliminary feasibility studies, and making budget execution flexible to ensure timely support for research, thereby reforming outdated regulations and systems."

Meanwhile, on this day, President Yoon presented appointment letters to six newly appointed members, including Baek Won-pil, Principal Researcher at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The event was attended by Lee Woo-il, Vice Chair 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 Presidential Office's Chief Economic Secretary.