Presidential Office: "Reports on R&D Budget Increase Review Are Inaccurate"

The Presidential Office stated on the 20th, "The report by some media outlets today regarding the review of an increase in the research and development (R&D) budget is not true."

The spokesperson office of the Presidential Office announced this through a press release in the morning.

In the budget plan announced on the 29th of last month, the R&D budget was set at 21.5 trillion won, which is 3.4 trillion won (13.9%) less than this year.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

One media outlet reported that due to the controversy over the science and technology cartel, the R&D budget was cut, raising concerns that a mass layoff of young scientists could occur, and that the Presidential Office and the People Power Party are reviewing a necessary increase in certain parts of the budget.

However, Choi Sang-mok, the Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs accompanying President Yoon Seok-yeol on his visit to New York, USA, repeatedly confirmed in a local briefing that the related report "has been confirmed to be untrue."

Choi further emphasized, "However, the government will ensure budget support for genuine R&D, sufficiently investing in future growth engines, and will not neglect support in this area, which is the existing position."

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