President Lee: "The 7 Major SEED Technologies Will Become New Mega Projects... Government Will Provide Full Support"

Report on the 7 Major SEED Projects for Future Growth Held on August 12

Discussion on Government Support for Advanced Technologies such as SMR and Nuclear Fusion

Lee: "We Must Prepare for the Next Growth Engines Beyond Artificial Intelligenc

On August 12, President Lee Jaemyung pledged the government’s full support, stating, “The seeds of frontier technology we are sowing today will eventually grow into great trees and evolve into new mega projects in the future.”

That afternoon at the Blue House, President Lee hosted the '7 Major SEED Projects for Future Growth Engines' briefing, emphasizing, “The 7 SEED projects will not only serve as the next-generation growth engines for our economy, but also as core national strategic assets.”

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the '7 Major SEED' report meeting for future growth engines held at the Blue House on August 12, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The 7 SEEDs refer to key sectors that will become essential assets for the future economy and security: small modular reactors (SMR), nuclear fusion, renewable energy, quantum technology, aerospace, advanced bio, and the supply chain for advanced materials and components.

President Lee analyzed, “A common feature of recently highlighted advanced technologies is their extremely rapid cycles of technological replacement. Both individuals and nations risk marginalization if they fail to adapt to these changes.” He added, “Semiconductors, which were plagued by crisis narratives until recently, are experiencing a structural supercycle. We are entering an era of great transformation, in which it is extremely difficult to predict what new technologies will emerge or how the industrial landscape will be reshaped in just a few years.”

President Lee also stressed, “Whether we become frontrunners enjoying limitless opportunities or remain as followers constantly exposed to the risk of obsolescence depends on the choices we make. We must leverage the golden opportunity created by the semiconductor industry and proactively secure our next growth engines for the AI era.”

Attendees at the event included officials from the Blue House and government, as well as university, research institute, and corporate researchers in advanced technology fields, STEM students, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists. President Lee addressed them by saying, “Please do your utmost so that our Republic of Korea can rise not only as a semiconductor powerhouse but also as a global leader in advanced science and technology, and as a nation of outstanding talent.”

He further pledged, “The government will provide robust support so that our innovative companies and scientific and technological pioneers can freely explore markets and boldly take on new challenges.”

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