Solving Scientific and Technological Challenges with AI... "K-Moonshot" Project Launched (Comprehensive)

Ministry of Science and ICT Launches "K-Moonshot" Project with Official Ceremony
Doubling Science and Technology Research Productivity by 2030
Solving 12 Major National Missions Including New Drug Development and Physical AI Models

The "K-Moonshot" project, which aims to enhance South Korea's scientific research capabilities using artificial intelligence (AI), has officially launched. K-Moonshot is a nationwide initiative that seeks to double research productivity in the science and technology sector by 2030 through the introduction of AI, while also aiming to solve 12 major national missions by 2035.

The Ministry of Science and ICT held the launch ceremony for the K-Moonshot Task Force on the afternoon of May 27 at Dragon City in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and appointed 12 general managers (PDs) who will lead the missions of K-Moonshot.

Baek Goon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, is delivering a greeting speech at the launch ceremony of the K-Moonshot Task Force held on the afternoon of the 27th at Dragon City in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Ministry of Science and ICT

The Ministry of Science and ICT first announced the K-Moonshot implementation strategy at the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Committee plenary session in February, and then confirmed the national missions at the Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting in March. Afterward, the process for selecting PDs for each mission was carried out through the National Research Council of Science & Technology and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), with the final selections completed on May 21.

The 12 PDs selected for each national mission are as follows: Minhyung Lee, CEO of Asthermorph (AI Scientist); Jungkoo Yeo, CEO of Daedong Robotics (Humanoids); Jinwoo Nam, Professor at Hanyang University (New Drug Development); Iljoo Cho, Professor at Korea University (BCI); Hyunjung Shin, Professor at Sungkyunkwan University (Solar Cells); Hyungnyul Yang, Director of the Innovative Fusion Reactor Design Division at Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (Nuclear Fusion); Donghyung Lee, Director of the Molten Salt Reactor Source Technology Development Project at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (SMR Ships); Wook Kim, Physical AI PM at IITP (Physical AI); Chunwoo Lee, Head of Space Exploration Research Center at Korea Aerospace Research Institute (Space); Sangkwan Lee, Principal Researcher at Korea Institute of Materials Science (Materials); Jiyeong Kim, Professor at Seoul National University (Semiconductors); and Soonchill Lee, Professor Emeritus at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Quantum).

Each PD serves as the chief manager for their respective mission. They are granted both the authority and responsibility to oversee the entire process required to accomplish their mission, including task identification, planning, and technological commercialization. The PDs comprise industry leaders such as Minhyung Lee and Jungkoo Yeo, researchers from government-funded research institutes, and professors from academia, representing experts from their respective fields. They will be appointed as National Special Research Fellows—a system for government-funded research institutes—and will serve either full-time or part-time.

On the afternoon of the 27th, at Dragon City in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Baek Kyunghoon and participants are seen conversing at the launch ceremony of the K-Moonshot Promotion Group. Ministry of Science and ICT

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Baek Kyunghoon stated, "We will develop K-Moonshot not only as a research and development (R&D) initiative but also as a solution for real-world problems, advancing it to a level where it can be applied and effective in industrial settings beyond just research. We will ensure that AI-driven innovation takes place across all scientific and technological disciplines."

Lee Juhan, Science and Technology Secretary at the Presidential Office, also commented, "With the abolition of the Project-Based System (PBS), government-funded research institutes are entering an era of new opportunities and challenges, and I hope they will play a pivotal role as the driving force behind K-Moonshot. Although the Ministry of Science and ICT is taking the lead, successful completion will require inter-ministerial cooperation."

Deputy Prime Minister Baek will head the K-Moonshot Task Force. The task force will monitor the progress of the PDs' missions and consolidate national scientific administration capabilities through policy coordination, R&D collaboration, and cooperation with related ministries. The ministries that expressed willingness to cooperate earlier this year participated in the launch ceremony, and in the future, other relevant ministries will be invited to join as collaboration needs arise depending on project developments.

The appointment ceremony for the 12 PDs also included announcements on the background and organizational structure of the K-Moonshot project, as well as support measures through the National AI Science Research Center (NAIS). Yongkyun Yoo, Director of NAIS, stated, "We plan to support AI as an innovative scientific discovery engine for researchers. We will bring together scientific AI resources such as training data, computing, and AI models, and develop and disseminate a science AI-operating system (OS) platform to enhance research productivity."

Deputy Prime Minister Baek emphasized, "While securing AI competitiveness is important to stay ahead in the AI supremacy race, defining what we will achieve with it and setting the ultimate goal is even more critical. Beyond simply integrating AI into science and technology, we will pursue K-Moonshot with a sense of mission to solve the problems facing humanity."

Meanwhile, the event was attended by dedicated institutions supporting each mission, including the National Research Foundation of Korea, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Brain Research Institute, Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, and Korea Aerospace Research Institute, as well as private entities such as Kyungpook National University Hospital, LG Electronics, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Ybrain, and Gbrain.

Following the launch ceremony, a K-Moonshot workshop was held where mission-specific practitioners gathered to discuss practical matters for the implementation of K-Moonshot. During the workshop, Sangrok Oh, President of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), and Wonchun Choi, former Chief PM for Grand Challenges, shared their know-how and experiences in mission-oriented R&D.

Paik Kun-hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, is taking a commemorative photo after presenting appointment letters to PDs from various fields at the launch ceremony of the K-Moonshot Task Force held at Dragon City, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 27th. Ministry of Science and ICT

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