[Reading Science] Is Science Diplomacy Being Properly Conducted?

US Science Diplomacy Chief Visits Korea
Meeting with Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Science and ICT Followed by Announcement Different from Korea's Approach
Understanding Counterpart's Intentions Essential to Achieve Science Diplomacy Goals

Last week, the top official for Science Diplomacy from the United States visited South Korea. It was Jennifer Littlejohn, Acting Assistant Secretary for Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. The purpose of Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn’s visit was to attend the 4th Korea-U.S. Environmental Cooperation Committee (ECC) and Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), which were held over 11 to 12 days by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Department of State. After the meetings, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released detailed results and a joint statement. The ministry also introduced the fact that Kim Heesang, Director-General for Economic Diplomacy Coordination, met with Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn. On the same day, the Ministry of Science and ICT issued a press release stating that Hwang Seonghoon, Director of International Cooperation, met with Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn to review the current status of Korea-U.S. government science and technology cooperation and discuss future plans.

The U.S. side’s announcement was quite different in tone from ours. On the U.S. Department of State’s Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Bureau’s X (formerly Twitter), photos of Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn visiting Korean government-funded research institutes in the science and technology sector were continuously posted. During her visit, Littlejohn visited the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, and the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy. She held talks or toured facilities with Lee Hoseong, President of KRISS, Kim Seonghoon, Vice President of KARI, and Yoon Siwoo, Vice President of the Fusion Energy Institute, to assess Korea’s scientific level. Neither the Ministry of Science and ICT nor the respective research institutes disclosed this information. Some research institutes did not even know exactly who had visited.

In the process, the U.S. Department of State also committed a diplomatic faux pas. They mistakenly posted the wrong title and name of the Ministry of Science and ICT official they met on X, and deleted it after being pointed out by Asia Economy.

Aside from this incident, Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn’s visit allows us to easily infer how the U.S. views our science sector. The institutes she visited are related to space, fusion energy, and quantum research. It was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the Ministry of Science and ICT, that mentioned these fields. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that Director-General Kim discussed cooperation between Korea and the U.S. in space, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, and other science and technology fields with Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State emphasized cooperation in economic and environmental fields during their meeting with Director-General Kim.

The Department of State stated that their meeting with the Ministry of Science and ICT focused on fusion energy, research using supercomputers, and physics. On the other hand, the Ministry of Science and ICT revealed that they mentioned bio and semiconductors with the U.S. side. This shows a divergence in mutual interests.

U.S. science diplomacy is conducted through the Department of State. Through long experience, the U.S. carries out science diplomacy strictly based on national interests. In contrast, Korea’s recognition of the importance of science diplomacy is relatively recent, and our response remains immature. Inter-ministerial conflicts persist. Regarding the space sector, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science and ICT have even competed for leadership. What matters is not the competition for leadership between ministries, but securing knowledge, information, and negotiation skills in science diplomacy that are not inferior to the other side for the sake of national interests.

Professor Seo Eun-sook of the University of Maryland, who recently returned to Korea for the Korean-American Scientists Conference, advised, “It may seem strange for a scientist to talk about diplomacy, but diplomacy is necessary not only in politics but also in science. For international cooperation, you need to understand what the other party wants to be able to negotiate.” Perhaps we do not even properly understand what Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn was trying to ascertain during her visit. Can this kind of science diplomacy protect our national interests?