Presidential office names new senior science secretary in R&D push
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President Yoon Suk Yeol's office announced on Thursday it has created a new senior secretary post for science and technology to embolden the administration's push for research and development.
Park Sang-ook, associate professor of science policy at Seoul National University, will take the new role, according to Yoon's office.
Park, under Sung Tae-yoon, presidential chief of staff for policy, will supervise four presidential secretaries -- each dedicated to R&D-related policy, digital technology, bio-medical technology and future strategic technology -- according to Lee Kwan-sup, Yoon's chief of staff.
He has "actively been involved in providing policy advice in the field of science innovation," and is "highly motivated in the overhaul in the current R&D system," Lee added.
Park told reporters that he would be tasked with "upgrading Korea's science ecosystem on par with South Korea's elevated position as a first-mover."
South Korea's state budget related to R&D for this year stood at 26.5 trillion won ($19.8 billion), down by 15 percent compared with that of 2023. The presidential office said the R&D budget will again rise in 2025 after policy coordination efforts to achieve efficiency, adding the budget cut decision was meant to tackle the "customary practices of indiscriminate handouts."
By Son Ji-hyoung(consnow@heraldcorp.com)
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