Park Hongkeun: "The Government Will Actively Support Full Commitment to Future Strategic Technology Research"

Visit to Fusion Energy Research Facility on the 15th

On May 15, Hongkeun Park, Minister of Planning and Budget, stated, "The government will actively support researchers so that they can fully commit to long-term studies by ensuring stable and continuous investment in future strategic technologies."

Hongkeun Park, Minister of Planning and Budget, is meeting with Hyunsong Shin, Governor of the Bank of Korea, at the Bank of Korea in Jung-gu, Seoul on May 14, 2026. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

On this day, Minister Park visited the KSTAR experimental facility at the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, where he reviewed the major achievements in fusion research and development (R&D). KSTAR is a next-generation superconducting fusion research device developed domestically through joint efforts among industry, academia, and research institutes.

During the subsequent meeting, representatives from key strategic technology sectors—including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, space, and advanced biotechnology—attended and shared their perspectives on: ▲ responding to global technological competition, ▲ supporting the commercialization and startup creation based on research outcomes, and ▲ strategies to maximize R&D achievements for technology-driven growth.

Minister Park remarked, "The growth of our science and technology thus far has been made possible by the relentless challenges faced by researchers at the front lines and their dedication." He continued, "We are acutely aware of the hardships experienced at research sites and the decline in government trust that resulted from previous R&D budgets being cut without sufficient prior review and communication with the field."

He added, "Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Planning and Budget and the Ministry of Science and ICT have been working more closely than before, jointly discussing R&D budgets and related policies. We will systematically establish medium- and long-term R&D investment directions so that research can continue stably, even amidst political or external changes."

He also emphasized, "We will focus our policy efforts on creating an environment where researchers can boldly undertake challenging research without fear of failure."

Furthermore, he stated, "The government recognizes R&D as a core investment that determines the future growth and national competitiveness of Korea. This year's R&D budget is the largest ever, with the highest growth rate, and next year, we will continue to expand fiscal investment in R&D fields, with special attention to securing national strategic technologies, enhancing advanced industry competitiveness, and nurturing future key talent."

Minister Park concluded, "It is now more important to maximize research outcomes than merely expanding investment volumes. We will establish a virtuous cycle where R&D achievements lead to industrial and economic growth, supporting technology-driven development."

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