National Science and Technology Advisory Council Convenes:
R&D Budget Up 19.3% from This Year
Next 2?3 Years Seen as a "Golden Time"
"Next Year's Budget Marks a Return to Normal Growth"
"Korea AI Action Plan" to Be Announced in Septemb
The Lee Jaemyung administration has set next year's research and development (R&D) budget at a record-high 35.3 trillion won. This represents a 19.3% increase from this year, not only restoring the budget to previous levels but also expanding support beyond that.
On August 22, President Lee Jaemyung presided over the plenary meeting of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council at the presidential office in Yongsan, stating, "The future of a nation is determined by how much interest it invests in science and technology. Historically, countries that respect and advance science and technology prosper, while those that disregard it generally fail. This remains true today." President Lee emphasized, "The reason why Korea succeeded in industrialization and democratization is ultimately because we invested in the future. Our nation must learn from this. The core of that is R&D."
President Lee outlined his plan to significantly increase the R&D budget, which had been reduced under the previous administration, in order to achieve "real growth." In particular, he identified the next two to three years as a "golden time" for fostering the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, expressing a strong intention to make aggressive budget investments. The newly allocated R&D budget will also be widely distributed across fields such as energy, strategic technology, and the defense industry. The government plans to officially launch the "National AI Strategy Committee" in September and announce the "Korea AI Action Plan."
This meeting was held under the theme "Respecting researchers and restarting investments in science that will change the future under a government of national sovereignty," to discuss the "2026 National R&D Project Budget Allocation and Adjustment Plan," the "New Administration's AI Policy and Investment Direction," and the "2026 R&D Promotion Strategy by Ministry, Centered on Field and User Needs."
President Lee assessed that Korea's science and technology sector has experienced a period of regression over the past three years. He pointed out that the Yoon Sukyeol administration drastically cut the R&D budget from 31.3 trillion won in 2023 to 26.5 trillion won in 2024, which sparked backlash. President Lee remarked, "Even during difficult times when it was hard to make ends meet, we did not spare investment in the future, but the state cut research funding and deprived researchers of opportunities." He added, "Student researchers and young scientists who lost their positions in laboratories have moved abroad for university or employment, threatening the basic research ecosystem and severely shaking the nation's science and technology competitiveness."
President Lee continued, "This government of national sovereignty will correct the mistakes of past administrations and invest again for the future," stressing, "To overcome the low growth and complex crises facing Korea, we must make it a top priority to invest in scientific research and support and foster high-tech industries, including AI." He also mentioned the 35.3 trillion won R&D budget proposal, saying, "This is a bold decision for Korea's future and a clear expression of the government's determination to become a powerhouse in science and technology."
In addition, President Lee emphasized that this R&D budget should be developed into the "K-R&D Initiative." He stated, "It is important to establish a virtuous cycle where bold R&D investment leads to 'technology-driven growth' by fostering future strategic industries, and the fruits of innovation are shared evenly among regions and citizens, achieving 'growth for all.'"
Along with improvements to the R&D system, President Lee also addressed the issue of talent. He said, "We are painfully aware that Korea is not considered attractive by outstanding talent in science and engineering," and stressed the need to "gradually abolish the Project Based System (PBS), which has undermined the identity of researchers at government-funded research institutes for the past 30 years, and shift the financial structure to a mission-oriented system for each institute. This will boost the pride of young science and technology talent and researchers, while also supporting them to design concrete futures and grow through research in Korea over the next five to ten years."
Furthermore, President Lee noted the upcoming launch of the "National AI Strategy Committee" and the announcement of the "Korea AI Action Plan" in September, calling for preparations to realize Korea as a "top three AI powerhouse" and an "AI basic society" through the construction of an AI highway, securing core AI technologies and talent, a sweeping AI transformation across industry, the public sector, and regions, universal AI utilization by the public, and global AI initiatives. He also called for prompt measures to address the surge in electricity demand that will accompany the expansion of AI research and utilization, as well as the development of advanced industries such as semiconductors.
Meanwhile, during the open discussion, committee members presented a range of opinions, including innovation of the R&D ecosystem, increasing the autonomy of government-funded institutes by abolishing PBS, improving the treatment of science and technology talent, securing a foundation for AI innovation, and expanding AI transformation (AX). In particular, they emphasized the need to establish collaboration systems with the private sector, expand investment in basic science to transition to a leading model, guarantee stable employment for young researchers, and introduce bold incentives. In his closing remarks, President Lee said, "The government R&D budget proposal discussed today will be the starting point for a new era of science and technology," and called on the committee members to pool their wisdom for innovation in the research ecosystem and the cultivation of science and technology talent.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
