Bill Proposed to Restore National R&D Budget... Mandatory 5% of Total Expenditures Secured

National Policy Planning Committee: "First Legislative Step for Swift Recovery of Research Ecosystem"
Extension of Science and Technology Advisory Council Review Deadline to August 20
Expansion of Innovation Office Review Scope to Entire R&D Budget

Yonhap News Agency

Hwang Jungah, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and a member of the National Policy Planning Committee responsible for drafting the policy framework of the Lee Jaemyung administration, announced that she has proposed a partial amendment to the Framework Act on Science and Technology to increase the national research and development (R&D) budget. She explained, "This amendment is the first legislative action to fulfill a presidential campaign pledge."

On July 2, during a briefing held at the annex of the Government Complex Seoul in Changseong-dong, Hwang introduced the main points of the amendment. First, the amendment includes a mandatory provision requiring the government to strive to ensure that R&D investment accounts for at least 5% of total national expenditures. Hwang stated, "I hope this amendment will be the first step toward swiftly restoring the collapsed science and technology research ecosystem and ensuring the sustainability of the national R&D budget and public trust."

The bill also extends the deliberation and resolution period of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council regarding the national R&D budget from June 30 to August 20 each year. It stipulates that the Office for Science and Technology Innovation must prepare the budget proposal after sufficient review with private-sector experts.

Additionally, the amendment expands the scope of deliberation by the Office for Science and Technology Innovation from the current "major R&D" to the entire R&D budget, including "general R&D." She explained, "This will allow for comprehensive deliberation, including research facilities, research management, project planning, and evaluation management costs."

Regarding the process of consultation with the ruling party on the bill, Hwang stated, "The Economic Subcommittee 2 of the National Policy Planning Committee has taken the lead in submitting this proposal," and added, "It will proceed through the standing committee in the National Assembly and follow the normal legislative process." On the provision requiring the R&D budget to account for at least 5% of total national expenditures, she said, "This is a legislative measure to expand the R&D budget," and noted, "Further consultations among ministries and between the party and government remain."