Yoon gives full support for essential R&D in science, technology

Daedeok R&D Special Zone’s 50th anniversary [Courtesy of The Office of the President]

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol began efforts to placate the science and technology community via persuasion, as his adjustments to the science and technology research and development (R&D) budget met with stiff opposition. While maintaining the intention of eliminating inefficiencies in the R&D budget, the government expressed its full support for essential research moving forward.

“The national R&D budget should be used to focus on developing basic fundamental technologies and next-generation technological capabilities where it is difficult for the private sector and the market to invest in R&D,” Yoon said at a ceremony celebrating Daedeok R&D Special Zone’s 50th anniversary on Thursday. “National competitiveness is dependent on science and technology. It is time to transform into a world-leading first mover with a new step forward, and we need to shift from quantitative to qualitative growth, from chasing to leading.” He added that Korea must invest in innovative and challenging research that strives for world-class excellence to secure the country’s future growth and prosperity.

In his speech, Yoon emphasized that “innovative and challenging research has no failure” and that “advancements, know-how, and experience in the research process are what we call success,” believing that challenging R&D should be encouraged rather than focusing on easy tasks to secure funding.

He also promised to expand opportunities for global research collaborations with the world‘s top researchers, streamline pre-feasibility studies, flexibly execute budgets, and improve the national contracting system for procuring research facilities.

The allocation of the science and technology R&D budget is expected to be concentrated on source technologies and technologies related to next-generation advanced industries moving forward.

In a speech at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Yoon had said that the government has significantly expanded R&D support for advanced artificial intelligence (AI), digital, bio, quantum, space, and next-generation nuclear energy. He also expressed his intention to expand investment in technology areas that are difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to invest in due to lack of funds, as well as deep tech areas such as AI, machine learning, and autonomous driving.

Previously, the science and technology community consistently raised concerns over the government’s decision to cut R&D budgets, citing the potential weakening of the country’s future competitiveness in science and technology as well as fewer jobs and attrition of young researchers.

The National Assembly Budget Office also challenged the decision, saying “If the government excessively cuts next year’s budget, unlike its previous moves to gradually increase it, could hinder the research field’s predictability.” The office called for a review, saying that budget cuts may lead to early termination or reduction of R&D projects, stunting the achievement of mid- to long-term goals or turning existing investments into sunk costs.

A threat to young researchers’ jobs is another factor that shifted the government toward partially restoring the budget.

According to data received from the National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST) by Representative Jeong Pil-mo of the Democratic Party of Korea, more than 1,200 trainees at government-funded research organizations are expected lose their jobs due to the R&D budget cut. Trainee positions refer to research personnel who are not full-time researchers, such as postdoctoral researchers, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral student researchers, and interns.

The People Power Party has also been looking for ways to make improvements. “We plan to closely examine whether we have missed viewpoints from the field, such as the labor costs of young scientists, investment in basic research, and support for women and young scientists,” Jung Woo-sung, chairman of the party’s special committee on science and technology, said.