Presidential Office: Nobel Science Prize Possible in Near Future... Bio, Next-Generation Food Source

"Korea, Semiconductors & K Nuclear Power... Nobel Prize-Level Achievements"
"Bio, Next-Generation Growth After Semiconductors"
"No Issues with Czech Nuclear Power Main Contract... Reassuring"

Sangwook Park, Chief of Science and Technology at the Presidential Office, is heading to the microphone to brief on current issues related to the National Artificial Intelligence Committee, which held its inauguration ceremony on the 26th of last month at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park Sang-wook, Senior Secretary for Science and Technology at the Presidential Office, said on the 31st, "Recently, many world-class researchers have emerged in the field of basic science," adding, "I believe it will be possible to win a Nobel Prize in science in the near future."

Park appeared on YTN Newsquare at 2 PM that day and said, "With (writer Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature), expectations that a Nobel Prize in science will be awarded have increased, and as the senior secretary responsible for this area, I feel a great weight on my shoulders."

Regarding why South Korea has not yet received a Nobel Prize in the sciences, Park explained, "The Nobel Prize in science is awarded for significant advances in basic science or for pioneering new fields," adding, "However, South Korea has only been investing in basic science for about 30 years."

He continued, "During our period of rapid economic growth, we mainly focused on developing applied technologies, and as a result, we have become a country that exports cutting-edge technologies such as semiconductors, smartphones, batteries, electric vehicles, and K nuclear power plants," adding, "This is actually something to be proud of, even more than a Nobel Prize."

Park emphasized that support for global research and development (R&D) will be expanded to achieve a Nobel Prize in the sciences.

He said, "The Nobel Prize is awarded to researchers recognized by the global scientific community, and it is not enough to just write and publish good papers; recognition must come through collaborative research and joint efforts in the global scientific community," adding, "It is true that South Korea's R&D ecosystem has been somewhat narrow and lacking in openness."

He added, "This year, the government has allocated a global R&D budget of 1.8 trillion won, four times that of last year, to strengthen global R&D cooperation, and we are currently accelerating the expansion of global R&D."

In addition, Park said support for the bio sector will also be strengthened.

He emphasized, "We see artificial intelligence (AI), bio, and quantum as the three major game changers, and among them, bio is a very core game changer field not only in healthcare but also in industry, energy, environment, and even security."

Park explained, "In the agriculture and food sectors, bio technology is being integrated to dramatically improve added value and productivity, and existing manufacturing industries are gaining competitiveness through eco-friendly bio transformation," adding, "Bio is leading innovation in many sectors and may be approaching our daily lives even faster than artificial intelligence, so the government cannot help but focus on bio as the next-generation growth engine after semiconductors."

Regarding the soon-to-be-launched National Bio Committee, he said, "The first meeting is scheduled to be held in December, presided over by the president," introducing it as "the highest inter-ministerial governance body in the bio sector covering the entire range from R&D strategy formulation to regulatory reform, research and development, clinical trials, and commercialization."

Regarding the Czech antitrust authority's temporary suspension of the contract related to the selection of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power as the preferred negotiator for the Dukovany nuclear power plant new construction project, Park said, "The public can rest assured."

He explained, "This is a routine procedural matter raised by the losing competitor, and there is no problem with the actual progress of the main contract."

He added, "I accompanied the president on his visit to the Czech Republic, and I felt a strong will not only from the Czech government but also from the citizens to move beyond a nuclear alliance with Korea to an advanced technology alliance across all fields of science and technology."