[2022 National Audit] Regional Science and Technology Innovation Capacity Still Concentrated in the Capital Area... Daegu, Sejong, Jeju at the Bottom

Most Top-Ranked Regions Have Less Than Half the Innovation Capacity
Hong Seok-jun Emphasizes "Need for Realistic Regional Solutions"

Hong Seok-jun, member of the People Power Party./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] It has been revealed that regions with top-tier science and technology innovation capabilities are still concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

According to an analysis of the '2021 Regional Science and Technology Innovation Capability Evaluation' report by Hong Seok-jun, a member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee from the People Power Party, the three regions of Gyeonggi, Seoul, and Daejeon have consistently ranked in the top tier over the past eight years.

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology Planning and Evaluation has been calculating the Regional Science and Technology Innovation Capability Index and analyzing its time-series changes to strengthen the comparison and analysis of regional science and technology innovation capability levels. This index synthesizes rankings of various sector-specific items and indicators related to science and technology by region to provide key information.

Looking at last year's Regional Science and Technology Innovation Capability Index (R-COSTII) scores, Gyeonggi scored 23.3 points, Seoul 19.2 points, and Daejeon 17.6 points, securing the top ranks. However, other regions scored less than half of the top region's innovation capability, with Gyeongbuk at 10.4 and Ulsan at 10.0, while all others scored below 10 points, indicating low scores.

In particular, examining the changes in regional science and technology innovation capability rankings over the past five years during the Moon Jae-in administration, Jeonbuk rose from 15th to 8th place, and Jeonnam from 13th to 11th place. However, Daegu dropped from 12th to 15th, Gwangju from 6th to 13th, and Sejong from 7th to 16th, showing significant declines.

Assemblyman Hong Seok-jun emphasized, "The concentration of science and technology innovation capabilities in the Seoul metropolitan area is worsening over time, and the gap with other regions is widening. Rather than merely establishing comprehensive plans or formal measures, practical alternatives such as special support for regions with particularly low science and technology capabilities and strengthening support for corporate research institutes located in those regions are necessary."

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