[News Spot] The 'Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency' Visited by President Yoon

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a key research and development agency under the U.S. Department of Defense that establishes long-term research and development plans for U.S. defense. It is where the internet was first created and has developed supercomputers, ultra-large computers, packet communication technology, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Stimulated by the Soviet Union launching the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, in October 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower established DARPA in February 1958 with an investment of $520 million. Its original name was the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). Its goal was to expand the boundaries of technology and science and to execute long-term military projects.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, on a state visit to the United States, is greeting staff during his visit to the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) in Washington DC on the 27th of last month (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In late 1958, with the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), all civilian and military space projects were transferred to NASA by 1960. DARPA then focused on major national projects such as the AGILE project researching ballistic missile defense, nuclear test detection, radar, and various sensors, as well as developing foundational biotechnology for treating wounded soldiers, achieving remarkable results.

The British weekly magazine The Economist in June 2021 described DARPA as an "institution that shaped the modern world." It has contributed technologically and scientifically to the development of the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine, weather satellites, GPS, drones, stealth technology, and voice interfaces. Many think tanks around the world have benchmarked DARPA.

In March 1972, the agency was renamed DARPA, then changed back to ARPA in February 1993. It reverted to DARPA again in March 1996, which remains its current name, with headquarters located in Arlington County, Virginia.

During his state visit to the United States, President Yoon Suk-yeol visited DARPA on the 27th of last month (local time), where he received a briefing on operations and overall status from DARPA Director Stephanie Tompkins and toured advanced technologies being planned and supported for research.

President Yoon stated, "We aim to fundamentally transform our military systems by integrating advanced science and technology into our armed forces," and expressed hope to strengthen cooperation with DARPA in advanced science and technology fields, including expanding the participation of Korean scientists.

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