267 Billion Won Invested Including 30,000 Won Per Person for Science Culture Voucher

Ministry of Science and ICT Confirms 2021 Science and Technology Culture Project Implementation Plan

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] The number of regional science culture hub centers will increase to 10 to allow the public easier access to and experience of science culture. The amount and eligibility for science culture vouchers for underprivileged groups will also increase, and stories selected through a nationwide public contest will be linked with major platforms to create content. The Ministry of Science and ICT finalized the '2021 Science and Technology Culture Project Implementation Plan' on the 17th with these details.

This plan consists of three main strategies: fostering specialized science culture promoters, creating a science culture enjoyed by all citizens, and enhancing the competitiveness of science culture platforms and content. The government will invest a total of 26.79 billion KRW for this plan, which is a 10% increase compared to last year.

First, the government will expand the regional science culture hub centers from the current 4 to 10. Currently, these centers are located in Gyeongnam, Daejeon, Chungbuk, and Busan. A new course for science performers, who are specialized personnel delivering science lectures and stories, will be established, operating a total of six courses. This will create new jobs in the science culture sector.

A science festival organizing committee involving the science and technology community and private sector directors will also be formed. Additionally, support for youth science activities will be differentiated, and support for marginalized groups in science culture will be expanded. For the science culture vouchers used by underprivileged groups, the amount per person will increase from 15,000 KRW to 30,000 KRW, and the number of beneficiaries will expand from 46,000 to 50,000.

Lastly, ScienceAll will enhance its functions by providing age-customized content, and the original stories discovered through this year’s nationwide public contest will be linked with CJ EnM and others to be turned into content.

Kang Sangwook, Director of the Future Talent Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "This plan was developed with the idea that anyone can easily enjoy science culture anytime and anywhere in the non-face-to-face era," adding, "We will do our best to make science culture something created and enjoyed together with the public."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.