[Opinion] Unrealistic International Cooperation with the US Choosing Tariff Barriers

Huge Budget Invested in Global Cooperation
Unclear Progress and Achievements in Actual Collaboration
Need to Secure Ultra-Gap Technologies Independently

The government is fervently pursuing scientific and technological cooperation with the United States. According to data from the office of National Assembly member Lee Jeong-heon, the budget for Korea-US research and development cooperation was 288 billion won last year and is 300.6 billion won this year. This is an enormous scale, 4.4 times the 68.5 billion won in 2023 when the 'interest cartel scandal' occurred. However, the budget for Korea-US international cooperation revealed by Yoo Sang-im, Minister of Science and ICT, is only 12 billion won. This suggests that most Korea-US cooperation is focused not on basic science but on developing game-changing technologies such as quantum, artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, and advanced bio.

It is true that the government has made some efforts for 'global cooperation.' In particular, it actively utilized the president's overseas visits. In January 2023, President Yoon Seok-yeol visited ETH Zurich to meet scholars in the quantum field, and in April, he visited the bio-industry cluster in Boston. The government also set a peculiar policy that it must directly establish a 'research institution cooperation system.' This means that global R&D cooperation cannot be left solely to the personal efforts of scientists who cannot be trusted.

With the government taking the lead, Korea-US cooperation in core technology fields such as quantum, hydrogen, synthetic biology, secondary batteries, nuclear fusion, and nuclear power is reportedly strengthening. Government-funded research institutes and research centers under the U.S. Department of Energy appear to be actively conducting various cooperative projects. This means signing flashy and noisy memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and unilaterally channeling a considerable portion of our R&D budget directly into U.S. research institutions.

Not all Korea-US cooperation proceeds smoothly. The reality revealed by the U.S. Department of Energy's 'Sensitive Country List (SCL)' incident is such. Our government was completely unaware of what happened in the Biden administration in January. It is astonishing that the government, obsessed with bureaucratic MOUs, pays no attention to the progress of cooperative projects. The late visit of the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy to the U.S. Department of Energy, pleading submissively for reconsideration, is an embarrassing sight. It is like paying money and getting slapped in return.

It is also unacceptable that the government does not disclose the reasons for the designation as a sensitive country. The designation is not a national security or diplomatic issue that must be hidden. It is problematic that the government could not find out the reasons, and even more problematic that it does not disclose them. The government's explanation that the U.S. "confirmed there is no problem with scientific and technological cooperation and expressed willingness for future cooperation" is unconvincing.

We must be wary of illusions about the U.S., which is pushing tariff barriers instead of cooperation with its allies. The Trump administration had a distorted perception that allies treated them "worse than enemies." They want to reclaim jobs and wealth taken by allies. Beyond indiscriminate tariffs on steel and aluminum, they are pushing for punitive reciprocal tariffs on automobiles and parts as well, with plans to enforce them in April?this is the harsh reality.

Our government's proposal to cooperate with such a U.S. on developing the most important 'security' asset, 'technology,' may be unrealistic. Especially if it is not basic science but ultra-gap technology to revive our economy. The U.S. might even try to reclaim technologies it had previously provided.

Leading, innovative, challenging, and creative R&D must be created by our own strength, not through global cooperation. We must also be cautious of former President Trump's chronic rejection of science and technology. In fact, he rejected vaccines and climate change.

Lee Deok-hwan, Professor Emeritus at Sogang University, Chemistry and Science Communication