[Revival of the Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology] AI Technology Expands Across All Sectors... A Cross-Ministerial Control Tower Is the Answer

Let Us Reinstate the Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology
The AI Big Bang Sparked by ChatGPT
AI Has Become a Decisive Factor for National Destiny
Urgent Need for Strong Leadership to Overcome the AI Wave
The Need Highlighted Again in This Presidential Election
Operated for Three Years During the Participatory Government
Led New Growth Engine Projects and Fostered Cross-Ministerial Cooperation

Editor's NoteSince the emergence of ChatGPT, the technology-driven big bang triggered by artificial intelligence (AI) has swept across the globe. AI has risen beyond being a mere technology to become a core variable that could determine the fate of nations. However, South Korea now faces a critical crisis: the risk of missing the 'golden time' in the AI era due to the absence of a clear national strategy and a strong control tower. Confusion over research and development (R&D) budgets and bureaucratic silos between ministries have resulted in the loss of precious time?time that, in the past, would have been equivalent to a year during the industrialization era, now lost in a single day. National turmoil caused by martial law has further compounded the situation. This is why there are growing calls to restore the powerful leadership that once propelled South Korea to the status of a leading economic powerhouse through the nuclear and IT industries, and to marshal national capabilities to establish a 'Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology' system that can help the nation overcome the massive wave of AI.

The need for a science and technology control tower in the AI era, which requires massive investment, has become particularly prominent in this presidential election. There are also ongoing calls to expand the role of the Ministry of Science and ICT. In the Democratic Party, Choi Minhee, chair of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, has led the introduction of a bill to establish a Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology. Kim Moonsu, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, has pledged to introduce such a position. Lee Joonseok, the Reform New Party's presidential candidate, has proposed integrating the Ministry of Science and ICT with the Ministry of Education and increasing the number of deputy prime ministers from two to three. Regardless of who becomes president, the reemergence of the Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology system seems likely.

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The need for a Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology stems from the desire to give more weight to policy implementation. This can be seen in past examples. During the participatory government, the 'Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology' system, which operated for three years, demonstrated the potential for a strong control tower. At that time, the Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology led new growth engine projects and coordinated cross-ministerial cooperation, based on real authority over the allocation and adjustment of the national R&D budget and overall science and technology policy. Jung Yoon, former Vice Minister of Science and Technology (currently President of Cheongwoon University), stated, "The attendance rate at science and technology ministerial meetings was even higher than at Cabinet meetings, which shows how active and driven the system was."

In particular, AI technology, which has recently come into the spotlight, is spreading beyond the domain of any single ministry to encompass science, IT, industry, education, defense, and all other sectors. Dispersed budgets, ministerial self-interest, and redundant investments cannot keep pace with the rapidly changing AI era. A 'powerful Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology' who can oversee the national AI R&D strategy, coordinate policies across ministries, and boldly drive regulatory innovation has become not a choice, but a necessity.

Global competitors have already launched all-out national efforts in AI. In China, Ding Xuexiang, a close aide to President Xi Jinping, leads the Central Science and Technology Commission as vice premier, spearheading the development of advanced industries such as AI and semiconductors. In Singapore, the 'Committee on the Future Economy' led by the deputy prime minister oversees national strategies for AI and Smart Nation initiatives. Likewise, in Israel, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology holds a quasi-deputy prime minister status and leads national R&D. These countries are rapidly advancing their national AI strategies under strong control towers, positioning themselves for the future.

Fortunately, there is growing consensus within the political sphere on the need to introduce the Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology system. As both the ruling and opposition parties recognize the need to overcome the crisis of the AI era and strengthen the science and technology control tower, it is now time to develop concrete implementation plans and accelerate progress.

Seo Yongseok, professor at KAIST's Moon Soul Graduate School of Future Strategy, advised, "To compete with the United States and China, sheer volume is not enough. We must establish our own innovative governance system centered on the Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology to enable selection and concentration on national strategic technologies and to optimize resource allocation."