Deputy Spokesperson An Gwiryung's Briefing on the 22nd
Kang Hoonshik: "Focused Budget Allocation for Major AI Transition"
On September 22, Kang Hoonshik, Chief Presidential Secretary, stated, "The competition in high-tech industries will be determined by the ability to attract outstanding talent," and instructed relevant ministries to "devise ways to leverage changes in U.S. visa policies as an opportunity to recruit global science and engineering professionals to Korea."
According to An Gwiryung, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Kang gave these instructions while presiding over a meeting of senior aides at the Yongsan presidential office on this day.
The Trump administration recently announced a 100-fold increase in the application fee for the H-1B professional employment visa, raising it from the current 1,000 dollars to 100,000 dollars (approximately 140 million won). Kang's directive is interpreted as an attempt to use the increasingly stringent U.S. employment visa situation as an opportunity to attract talent to Korea.
Kang noted, "During the previous administration, there was criticism that outstanding talent had no other choice but to leave Korea for overseas due to cuts in research and development (R&D) budgets," and added, "Our government plans to concentrate next year's budget on major initiatives such as the AI transformation to realize a super-innovative, technology-driven economy."
According to Deputy Spokesperson An, Kang also discussed ways to improve the support system for military personnel injured during service. Kang emphasized, "A fair military service system must be established in which special sacrifices are met with special rewards," and urged, "Promptly devise and report measures to improve the support system for injured service members so that soldiers can trust the nation."
Additionally, Kang pointed out, "Competition to open new franchise locations, especially in the restaurant industry, continues," and noted, "It seems that franchisees do all the work, while headquarters reap the profits, and this power imbalance remains unchanged." He further stated, "Institutional improvements must be pursued to ensure that franchise owners, who are socially disadvantaged, are protected from harm throughout the entire process from opening to operation and closure, and to establish a fair competitive order."
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