Yoon "Supporting Graduate Student Research Living Scholarships... Making Daejeon a Global Advanced Cluster" (Comprehensive)

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the twelfth "Public Discussion on Livelihoods" held under the theme "Daejeon, the Science Capital Innovating the Republic of Korea" on the 16th at the ICC Hotel in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 16th, "We will officially begin supporting research living scholarships for graduate students, a long-standing wish of the science and technology community for 20 years." He also hinted at plans to rapidly develop the Daejeon 2nd Daedeok Research Complex into an advanced cluster that organically combines research and development with service industries such as law, finance, and accounting, similar to the Boston Bio Cluster in the United States, alongside the 1st complex.

On the same day, President Yoon held the twelfth public discussion forum titled "Daejeon, the Science Capital Innovating the Republic of Korea" at the ICC Hotel in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, and said, "We will provide full support so that our science and engineering students can focus on their studies and research without worrying about tuition or living expenses."

After visiting Busan on the 13th for the first time outside the metropolitan area to hold a public discussion forum, President Yoon emphasized upgrading Daejeon as a science and technology hub during his second regional public discussion visit.

In his opening remarks, President Yoon said, "The most certain way to enhance national science and technology competitiveness is to nurture future talent," and promised, "We will ensure that science and engineering students can devote themselves to their studies and research without worrying about tuition or living expenses."

To this end, President Yoon announced the introduction of a graduate student research living scholarship stipend for full-time science and engineering graduate students participating in national research and development, providing a minimum of 800,000 KRW per month for master's students and at least 1,100,000 KRW for doctoral students. Additionally, the government will increase the scholarship budget by about 130 billion KRW this year and expand the Presidential Science Scholarship, previously only available to undergraduates, to graduate students, providing an average of 25 million KRW per person annually.

President Yoon emphasized, "We will reform systems and budgets so that we can focus on challenging and innovative research and development (R&D). I understand some are concerned that support might decrease during this innovation process. I assure you there is no need to worry at all; it will actually get much better." This statement is interpreted as President Yoon addressing concerns from the science and technology community following last year's significant government cuts to the national R&D budget.

President Yoon also explained, "We need to establish a support system that allows future generations of scientific researchers to fully concentrate on research and studies. Previously, professors gathered their students and received industry-academia cooperation program funds to cover student wages, but (going forward) the government will provide foundational financial support to make this system more robust."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 12th "Public Livelihood Discussion" held under the theme "Daejeon, the Science Capital Innovating the Republic of Korea" at the ICC Hotel in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon on the 16th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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President Yoon stressed that he will transform Daejeon to expand urban openness and connectivity befitting its status as the science capital. He also called for change, saying, "For our science to take a leap forward, the science capital Daejeon must also be remodeled." He stated, "We will underground the Gyeongbu and Honam railway lines that hinder Daejeon's urban development and swiftly initiate a feasibility study for the public-private partnership project of the 'Daejeon-Sejong-Cheongju CTX (Chungcheong Regional Express Railway)' to enable synergy between Sejong's administrative functions and Cheongju's bio and semiconductor industries, making the project visible within my term."

President Yoon said, "The Gyeongbu and Honam railway lines, which once made Daejeon a transportation hub, now divide the city east to west and hinder urban development," adding, "We will promptly underground the Gyeongbu Line section from Shindaedong to Okcheon and the Honam Line section from Ojeong-dong to Gasuwon, transforming the surface into a space where commercial, residential, and cultural functions converge." He further explained, "We will establish a comprehensive railway undergrounding plan next year and begin the basic plan for Daejeon railway undergrounding from 2026, ensuring the foundation for construction is secured within my term."

Furthermore, he emphasized that the 2nd Daedeok Research Complex, pledged during the presidential campaign, will be developed rapidly and, together with the 1st complex, transformed into an advanced cluster that organically integrates research and development with service industries such as law, finance, and accounting, similar to the Boston Bio Cluster in the United States.

President Yoon stated, "To foster advanced science and technology, the past support methods are insufficient. Like the Boston Bio Cluster in the U.S., research and development must be organically combined with service industries such as law, finance, and accounting." He explained that this approach would translate high research and development outcomes into significant economic value, creating a virtuous cycle through reinvestment that further activates research and development.

President Yoon said, "We will create a world-class advanced cluster in Daejeon by integrating the 1st special zone and the newly established 2nd special zone in fields such as nanotechnology, semiconductors, bio, aerospace, and defense industries," and urged, "I hope the central government ministries and Daejeon city work as one team to swiftly advance this."

In his closing remarks, President Yoon added, "To properly develop Daejeon as the science capital, we must not only create a research ecosystem but also build an industrial ecosystem on a larger scale to establish a 'science megalopolis,'" pledging active support to enhance Daejeon's accessibility.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 12th "Public Livelihood Discussion" held under the theme "Daejeon, the Science Capital Innovating the Republic of Korea" on the 16th at ICC Hotel in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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