"100 Years of Liberation, Aiming for Science and Technology G3"... Government Launches "South Korea 2045 Science and Technology Frontier Strategy"

Hun Paik, Deputy Prime Minister, and Lee Kwanghyung, KAIST President, to Co-Chair Committee for Strategy Formulation

Blueprint to Secure Technological Sovereignty in AI, Quantum, Space, Next-Generation Energy, and Other Future Fields

The government has launched the development of a long-term national science and technology strategy aimed at making South Korea one of the world’s top three science and technology powerhouses (G3) by 2045, marking the centennial of Korea’s liberation. Amid intensifying global competition over next-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, and space, the government is working to secure future technological sovereignty by establishing a national blueprint.

On June 4, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced the official launch of the “2045 Science and Technology Frontier Strategy Committee” and stated that it has commenced work on the “South Korea 2045 Science and Technology Frontier Strategy.”

Reference photo to aid understanding of the article. Baek Honghoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT.

This strategy is a national-level future plan that outlines the mid- to long-term vision and action plans for the science and technology sector, in connection with the government’s ongoing “South Korea 2045 National Development Strategy.”

The Ministry of Science and ICT believes that, as AI and quantum technologies are reshaping not only industry and the economy but also security and the global order, a nation’s ability to take the lead in future technologies and design new technological frameworks will determine its competitiveness. The plan is not limited to forecasting promising technologies; instead, it aims to first define the future vision that South Korea should pursue by 2045, and then identify the core technologies and national innovation tasks required to realize that vision.

Roadmap for Future Technologies: AI, Quantum, Space, and More

The strategy committee, established to formulate this plan, is co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Hun Paik and Lee Kwanghyung, President of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

The committee consists of a general committee and eight subcommittees. The subcommittees are organized into the following areas: Future Planning, Superintelligence & Hyperconnectivity, Life & Medical, Climate/Environment/Energy, Future Mobility, Space & Deep Sea, Future Materials & Manufacturing, and Innovation Policy.

Notably, the committee will involve not only experts in science and technology but also science fiction writers, television producers, and young researchers, who will discuss the social, cultural, and ethical issues that may arise from technological advancements.

Based on the discussions in each subcommittee, the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to release an interim draft of the strategy within this year for public feedback, and to announce the final strategy in April 2027. The year 2027 will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the nation’s science and technology administration.

Deputy Prime Minister Paik stated, “By 2045, South Korea must no longer be a follower chasing advanced nations, but should instead become a science and technology powerhouse that firmly secures technological sovereignty and contributes to the progress of humanity. We will develop a national strategy to prepare for the next 20 years of Korean science and technology.”

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