SNU professor Yoo Sang-im named new minister of science and ICT

President Yoon Suk Yeol named Yoo Sang-im, a materials science professor at Seoul National University, as the new minister of science and ICT on Thursday.

Yoo Sang-im, a materials engineering professor at Seoul National University, speaks during a briefing at the presidential office as he is named the new ICT minister on Thursday. [NEWS1]

President Yoon Suk Yeol named Yoo Sang-im, a materials science professor at Seoul National University, as the new minister of science and ICT on Thursday.

Yoo graduated from Seoul National University's Department of Inorganic Materials Engineering and holds a Ph.D. in engineering from Iowa State University. Since 1998, he has been a professor at Seoul National University, where he served as the director of the Research Institute of Advanced Materials, with a background in developing core technologies in materials science.

"Yoo has experience in academic leadership and has also participated in numerous R&D policies and projects, with rich experience in communicating with the government, industry, and research sectors," said Chung Jin-suk, the chief of staff at the presidential office, during a briefing on Thursday. "With his longstanding research experience and expertise, he will lead the innovation of our R&D system and advance Korea’s science and technology at the turning point for high-tech cooperation."

Yoo addressed the government's 15 percent cut in the research and development (R&D) budget that baffled Korea's scientists. This year's abrupt budget cut to 26.5 trillion won ($19.7 billion) marked the country's first R&D outlay contraction in 33 years.

"I also have a personal experience where a big project that I participated in was disrupted due to budget constraints," Yoo said.

"Since the national R&D budget is limited, we need to make choices and focus on certain areas — and while this is an inevitable part of the process, many in the scientific community believe the lack of communication is a problem," Yoo continued. "I plan to communicate more broadly and smoothly to determine what budget is essential for our R&D and to examine its appropriateness with those affiliated with various institutions as we work to resolve this issue."

The president also appointed several vice ministerial-level officials.

Tae Yong-ho, a former senior North Korean diplomat and ex-lawmaker in Seoul, was tapped as secretary general of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council. This marks the first time a North Korean defector has been appointed to a vice-ministerial position in the South Korean government.

Tae served as the North's deputy ambassador to Britain and fled to South Korea in 2016. He was a member of the preceding 2020-24 National Assembly of the conservative People Power Party.

The presidential office described Tae as having “firsthand experience with the realities of North Korea and expertise from his activities in the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee,” making him well-suited to support the establishment of policies for peaceful unification.

Kim Sung-sup was appointed vice minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Kim has been the presidential secretary for SMEs and Startups since the current administration began.

Nam Hyung-ki was nominated as the second deputy chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination. Nam has served as the head of the Planning and Coordination Office there since the current administration began.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]