South Korea and the U.S. Discuss COVID-19 Response through Science, Technology, and ICT

Minister Choi Ki-young of the Ministry of Science and ICT attended the full meeting of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee held at the National Assembly on the 5th, presenting the proposed budget for next year. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] On the 18th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the '10th Korea-US Science and Technology Joint Committee' online in collaboration with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to discuss responses to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This joint committee is a representative ministerial-level meeting that discusses overall cooperation in science, technology, and ICT between the two countries based on the Korea-US Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement.

At the meeting, both countries shared policies on research ethics and COVID-19 to strengthen cooperation in the field of science and technology. Regarding research ethics, they shared the importance of securing ethics in international research institutions and agreed to cooperate to build a safer and more open research and development ecosystem. For COVID-19 response, they discussed response measures utilizing science, technology, and ICT, as well as support plans for research institutions. Both countries agreed on the importance of bilateral cooperation to solve global common issues such as COVID-19 and committed to continue efforts to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

The joint committee was led by Minister Choi Ki-young of the Ministry of Science and ICT as the chief representative. Delegations from the Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States, and the National Research Foundation of Korea also participated. The United States was represented by Kelvin Droegemeier, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, as the chief representative, with delegations from the Department of State, National Science Foundation, and National Institutes of Health.

Minister Choi stated, "I hope that the Korea-US Science and Technology Joint Committee will further strengthen the science and technology alliance between the two countries and continue to serve as a representative channel for science and technology cooperation between Korea and the US."

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