Yoon calls for swift establishment of space agency

Jul 06, 2023, 07:57 am

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President Yoon Suk-yeol attends the opening ceremony of the first World Congress of Korean Science and Technology held at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Seoul on July 5, and listens to a research explanation by Kwak Sei (France)./ Source: Presidential Office

AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday expressed regret over the opposition party’s lack of cooperation on legislative process to establish a national space agency, which was submitted to the National Assembly in April.

Yoon criticized the opposition party’s non-cooperation in handling bills for two consecutive days following his criticism over delay in handling the revision of the National Finance Act at a government meeting on economic policy directions for the second half of the year on Wednesday.

At the inaugural World Congress of Korean Scientists and Engineers, Yoon vowed to establish the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) within the year to lead the development of science and technology.

He promised full government support, saying, “The most important thing in protecting and expanding freedom is science and technology.”

Yoon noted the government allocated a budget of over 30 trillion won (US$23 billion) this year for research and development (R&D). “The government’s R&D investment should be injected into world-class research,” he said. His remarks are similar to his previous remarks on Tuesday that splitting government subsidies for R&D is hindering science and technology innovation. He seems to have emphasized that the budget should be spent appropriately in areas where it is essential in order to eliminate cartels that are prevalent.

“We will provide active support so that young scientists can jointly research with the world’s top researchers at excellent research institutions, and take up challenges,” Yoon said. “We will focus on establishing an infrastructure for domestic university research institutes so they can conduct creative research.”

“The most important thing in solidarity with the international community is to build a network of Korean scientists abroad for exchange and cooperation,” he said. “We will invite Korean researchers around the world every year, and provide support for joint research and manpower exchange.”

The World Congress of Korean Science and Technology is a follow-up to Yoon’s proposal to hold a research exchange forum in the country inviting Korean scientists and engineers from across the world during his visit to New York University in September last year.

#World Congress #R&D