Yoon to Cabinet Members: "Study Semiconductors More, Even If You Need a Private Tutor" (Comprehensive)

Yoon: "Biden's Visit to Pyeongtaek Semiconductor Plant Shows US Won't Abandon Korea from Security Strategy Perspective"
"Education Ministry Must Innovate and Reform to Foster Semiconductor Talent"
Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT, Gives Semiconductor Lecture at Cabinet Meeting

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Baek Kyunghwan and Lee Gimin] On the 7th, President Yoon Seok-yeol urged Cabinet members to "study more to raise their level, even if it means hiring private tutors," emphasizing the need to enhance understanding of semiconductors, a national strategic asset.

A presidential office official stated during a briefing held at the Yongsan Presidential Office that "At the morning Cabinet meeting, President Yoon said that semiconductors form the foundation of our economy, accounting for 20% of total exports, and are a national security asset as well as the core of our industry. He urged all ministries to make extraordinary efforts to nurture talented personnel, which is key to the semiconductor industry."

President Yoon stressed the security and strategic value of the semiconductor industry, saying, "U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Pyeongtaek, home to the largest foundry, symbolically demonstrated to the world that the United States cannot abandon South Korea from a security strategic perspective."

He particularly emphasized that talent development is essential for fostering the semiconductor industry and placed importance on educational reform and innovation by the Ministry of Education.

President Yoon said, "Not only for semiconductors but also to enhance our potential growth and industrial competitiveness, the most important factor is talent development. There is no such thing as leapfrog growth without talent."

He continued, "If there are regulations that need to be lifted for talent development, we must boldly remove them, and if there is financial support the government can provide, we must decisively support it. Without such resolute decisions, achieving high growth or leapfrog development will be difficult."

He added, "The Ministry of Education must undergo a paradigm shift. To nurture talent that will lead advanced industries, the existing methods will not work. The core of the Ministry of Education is talent development necessary for industrial advancement. The Ministry must work differently from before, cooperating with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and others, and operate under different standards," he reiterated.

At the Cabinet meeting, Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-ho, a world-renowned expert in the semiconductor field, gave a lecture to Cabinet members on the topic of "Understanding Semiconductors and Their Strategic Value."

After Minister Lee’s lecture, President Yoon said, "Today’s lecture was easy," urging Cabinet members to raise their knowledge level regarding semiconductors.

It is unusual for a Cabinet member to lecture other members on important issues related to their respective ministries during a Cabinet meeting. A presidential office official explained, "This was a session for all ministries to cooperate and discuss various measures to secure a super-gap in the semiconductor field and overcome chronic manpower shortages," adding, "It signifies the intention to make Cabinet meetings more substantive and practical."

On the same day, Special Advisor on Education, Science and Technology Kim Chang-kyung tendered his resignation due to health reasons, which President Yoon accepted. A presidential office official said, "Special Advisor Kim submitted his resignation based on a doctor’s opinion that absolute rest is necessary," and added, "Since he was a non-standing advisor, his resignation was accepted immediately."

Meanwhile, at the Cabinet meeting, 110 laws passed by the National Assembly on May 29, including the 'Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act Amendment' applying industrial accident insurance to platform workers, were promulgated. President Yoon urged, "Each ministry must ensure thorough implementation so that the purpose of the law amendments is realized smoothly in the field."

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