'AI, Space, and Bio' Held Back by President's Chairmanship

Advanced Core Technology Fields Controlled by Committees, Not Relevant Ministries
Presidential Committee Chair Influence Causes Committees to Halt Operations
Experts Say "Delegating to Each Ministry Can Avoid Political Turmoil"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the opening ceremony of the Space Agency and the 1st National Space Committee held at the temporary office of the Space Agency in Sacheon-si, Gyeongnam on May 30. Photo by Presidential Office Press Photographers Group, Yonhap News

With President Yoon Suk-yeol's powers suspended, national technology policy has also entered a state of zero progress. The formation of science and technology-related committees directly under the president, separate from the Ministry of Science and ICT, has backfired. The scientific community is pointing out that committee formations centered around the president should be avoided.

According to the science and technology sector on the 16th, under the current government, there are committees directly under the president, including the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee, the National Bio Committee, and the National Space Committee. However, with President Yoon, the chairman, having his duties suspended due to impeachment proceedings amid a state of emergency, the operation of these committees is also facing difficulties.

The National Bio Committee is a representative example. It is the third strategic technology committee chaired by President Yoon, following the National Space Committee and the National AI Committee. The National Bio Committee was scheduled to launch this month but has effectively been canceled. The committee must be formed and hold its first meeting with the president in attendance, but with President Yoon's suspension, it is at a standstill. The National Bio Committee includes Lee Sang-yeop, Vice President of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), as vice chairman, along with ministers from multiple related departments, Kim Bit-nae-ri, director of the RNA research group at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Ko Han-seung, chairman of the Korea Bio Association, Kim Young-tae, director of Seoul National University Hospital, and about 20 other bio experts.

The National Space Committee was scheduled to hold its second meeting within the year under the president's chairmanship to hear policy directions from the Space Aviation Agency and decide future directions such as reusable launch vehicles. However, the space industry feels that the meeting within the year is already off the table. A space agency official explained, "The meeting could be held under the acting president or Vice Chairman Bang Hyo-chung," but the weight of policy decisions made with the president attending as chairman cannot be matched. The National AI Committee is in a confused state as the AI Basic Act is stalled in the National Assembly, and the chairman, the president, as well as the ex officio member, the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, is vacant.

The Quantum Strategy Committee, which will oversee policies in the quantum science and technology field but is not chaired by the president, is also facing a red light for launching within the year. With Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the chairman, acting as the president and having increased duties, it is difficult to emphasize the importance of the quantum field, which is not an urgent task.

The number of technology-related committees chaired by the president is expected to increase. The Semiconductor Special Act currently pending in the National Assembly includes provisions to establish a National Semiconductor Committee directly under the president.

There is skepticism in the scientific community about science and technology policies through committees chaired by the president. Even the United States, which leads the global science and technology field, rarely has the president chair related committees. In Korea, despite the clear existence of the Ministry of Science and ICT, the presidential office is leading committees, creating a policy structure that overlaps and complicates governance. Although it is said that all related ministries are encompassed and experts' opinions are heard, the impeachment process has only confirmed excessive concentration.

Lee Deok-hwan, emeritus professor at Sogang University, said, "Having a president without expertise in the science field chair science and technology committees means nothing beyond showing will. Rather, it can become a target when the administration changes," emphasizing, "Decision-making authority in each field should be boldly delegated to the relevant ministries."