MSIT’s Work Plan for 2024

The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong Ho, MSIT) announced its major

policy implementation plan for 2024 on February 13, aiming to "become a global science

and technology powerhouse and a digital model nation."

Over the past year, MSIT has been leading digital innovation, such as the successful third

launch of Nuriho in May, which raised the scientific and technological status of the country

and laid the foundation for the innovation of R&D system, and the announcement of the

"Digital Bill of Rights" in September. Based on the achievements made so far, the Ministry

 announced that it will implement four major strategies and twelve key tasks to enable Korea

to achieve another round of growth surge as a global science and technology powerhouse

and digital model country in 2024.

​

Creating a world-leading R&D hub

MSIT will proactively encourage innovative research that aims to be the best in the world

and create a global R&D hub that can lead the future.

First, the Ministry will strengthen the foundation for global R&D cooperation by expanding

joint research with technologically advanced countries and actively attracting overseas talent.

MSIT will significantly expand joint research with world-class research institutes centered

on basic and national strategic technologies.

In addition, in order to attract overseas talent to Korea, we will provide pre-settlement support

services, and will promptly improve the system that has been recognized as an obstacle to the

expansion of global R&D, by allowing direct participation of overseas organizations in gover

nment-funded R&D.

Second, we will expand support for young researchers who will lead the future and foster global

leading talent through reasonable performance-based rewards. MSIT will create a stable environ

ment for research and academic immersion by establishing graduate school scholarships for the

entire cycle of science and engineering students (bachelor's, master's, and doctoral) and expan

ding support for outstanding young researchers (KRW 216.4 billion in 2023 → KRW 270.2 bill

ion in 2024).

In addition, the government will enhance technology fee compensation (50% to 60% of the gove

rnment's technology fee share) and raise the tax-free limit for invention rewards (5 million won

to 7 million won per year) to boost researchers' morale for research and commercialization.

Third, the Ministry will reform the R&D system so that researchers can freely challenge innova

tive research. We plan to categorize challenging R&D that aims to be the first and best in the

world, expand investment, and apply special exceptions so that they can take bold challenges.

In addition, relevant laws will be enacted and revised to promote challenging and innovative

R&D that has a high probability of failure but a significant impact if successful, nurture

excellent human resources in science and technology, and create a foundation for interna

tional cooperation in R&D. In addition, the system as a whole will be improved by consolid

ating and reorganizing dispersed and fragmented R&D projects (more than 1,200) to enhance

 their effectiveness, and phasing out the fiscal year-binding system to allow research projects

to be started at any time of the year.

Driving innovation through challenging R&D

In the era of race for technological supremacy, the Korean government will focus on

implementing R&D projects that challenge the world's first and best to achieve growth

surge as a science and technology powerhouse.

Fourth, the government will accelerate the development of three game-changing technologies

(quantum, AI, and advanced biotechnology). First, in the quantum field, we will build an open

quantum fab (large-scale public research equipment, etc.) that can be utilized by researchers.

In addition, we will launch a cloud service (to support the development of quantum algorithms)

 for a domestically developed 20-qubit quantum computer, demonstrate long-distance transmiss

ion of quantum Internet technology (100m→100km) in the second half of 2024, and advance

the world-leading quantum gravity sensor.

In the field of AI, MSIT will promote next-generation technology development (KRW 58 billion 

in 2024) to overcome the limitations of generative AI (false answers, bias, etc.), and establish

"AI research hubs" in Korea and the United States to conduct advanced research with leading

overseas researchers (KRW 9 billion) in the second half of 2024. As for cutting-edge biotechn

ology, we will expand global cooperation by supporting joint research with the United States

(Boston, etc.), which has the world's leading bio cluster (15 billion won in 2024).

Fifth, the Ministry will foster the three leading global technologies in next-generation semi

conductors, next-generation network, and space. In an attempt to secure 'super gap' next-

generation semiconductor technologies, we will focus on AI semiconductors (development

and demonstration of homegrown low-power, high-performance AI semiconductors, "K-

Cloud Project"), compound semiconductors (fostering strategic fields such as space, defense,

and communications through industry-academia-research collaboration), and advanced

packaging (development of source technologies, KRW 6.4 billion in 2024). In addition,

the next-generation network projects will include 6G commercialization and standardization

R&D in the second half of 2024, demonstration of domestic open LAN (open wireless access

network) equipment in 2024, and passage of preliminary feasibility study of low-orbit satellite  

​communication (479.7 billion won).

In the space sector, the Korea Aerospace Administration, a national space development agency,

will establish the framework for space governance through the opening of the agency in May

this year, select companies that participate in next-generation launch vehicle projects for transfer

of launch vehicle technology to the private sector in March 2024, and establish space industry

clusters in South Jeolla Province, South Gyeongsang Province, and Daejeon Metropolitan City 

to advance the era of New Space where the space industry is led by the private sector.

Sixth, MSIT will promote R&D of promising future technologies. The Ministry will launch

boundary-pushing R&D project (49 billion won, 2024-2028) that has a high probability of

failure but is expected to have a huge effect if successful, and select and operate a national

hydrogen R&D center to develop homegrown clean hydrogen production technology to realize

carbon neutrality in 2050. In addition, the standard design of innovative SMR, a next-generation

carbon-free small nuclear power plant, will be launched in April.

Furthermore, for a low-power network, the Ministry will develop AI algorithms that save the

power of base stations and apply domestic AI semiconductors in full scale.

Leading the AI and digital transformation

In the era of coexistence with AI, we will lay the foundation for economic and industrial

growth surge based on AI, and lead global norms as a digital model nation.

Seventh, MSIT will identify new businesses and services that can create economic growth

and jobs through AI and digital innovation, and improve the quality of people's lives by

disseminating AI in all aspects of people's lives. First of all, we will support productivity

innovation by securing global AI technology leadership and regulatory improvement across

the economy and industry. In addition, the Ministry will create new markets through the AI

and new digital technology convergence project (40 billion won in 2024), and support

securing leadership in the on-device AI market, which is in the early market stage, by prom

oting the "On-Device AI Promotion Strategy" based on homegrown AI semiconductors.

In addition, MSIT plans to promote wide use of AI in people's everyday lives, importantly

in the five prioritized areas such as education, healthcare, and law (773.7 billion won), and

provide comprehensive support for the rapid introduction of AI innovation in the fields

of data, regulatory innovation, human resource development, and financial and taxation support.

Eighth, we will establish a safe and reliable new digital order in the era of AI coexistence.

Based on the "Digital Bill of Rights" announced last September, the government will develop 

the "Implementation Plan for Establishing a New Digital Order," which provides solutions

to digital issues (52 subjects in 17 fields, including AI safety, reliability, and remote medical

treatment) across industry, society, and culture through public discussion by March. In addition,

the Artificial Intelligence Act will be enacted and the AI Safety Research Institute will be esta

blished to create a foundation for AI development and trustworthiness, and the operation of

a private, autonomous AI reliability inspection and certification system will be introduced.

Ninth, MSIT will lead the discussion on global norms for AI and digital fields and secure

global digital market leadership. Together with the government of the U.K., we will hold the

"2nd AI Safety Summit*" in Seoul in May to lead the discussion of AI norms and promote

the globalization of the Digital Bill of Rights to consolidate our status as a model digital nation.

The Korean government will lead the new digital order by sharing the "Digital Bill of Rights"

with international organizations such as the Permanent Consultative Group within the OECD

(newly established), the University of Toronto, and GovAI of the U.K.

In addition, the government will provide specialized support for promising domestic AI

and digital businesses to explore opportunities in overseas markets, including digital twins,

metaverses, SW, and OTT, and expand digital territory by establishing a digital export

pioneering team, the Middle East IT Support Center in Dubai, and expanding cooperation

channels.

Inclusive AI and digital technologies for all

MSIT will create an inclusive AI and digital society where anyone, anywhere in the country

can grow with AI and digital technologies, and where AI and digital industry contribute to

people's livelihood and safety.

Tenth, the Ministry will promote the utilization of AI and digital technologies across the

country. We will expand the number of pilot digital innovation districts that integrate

core AI infrastructure in provincial areas (3 in 2023 → 5 in 2024), while also promoting regional

AI conver gence projects (Chungcheong, Gangwon, Honam, and Yeongnam) to revitalize

local industries, and expanding regional digital innovation projects and smart villages

(110 billion won in 2024 with 99 tasks) to solve local issues with AI and digital technologies.

In addition, through 13 SW Future Learning Centers and SW Shared Growth Project, we

will help students in underprivileged areas and youth preparing for self-reliance achieve

growth based on digital solutions, and promote the enactment of the Digital Inclusion Act,

which legislates access to and use of AI and digital services as a universal right for all citizens,

along with a complete reorganization of digital learning centers to strengthen the public’s capa

bilities to effectively use AI.

In addition, to improve the quality of public SW projects and apply new digital technologies

such as AI, the government will reorganize the system of restricting participation of large com

panies and improve the compensation system, and provide innovative public services of digital

platform government that enable citizens to enjoy tangible benefits.

Eleventh, we will improve the oligopoly system in the telecommunications market to

strengthen the competition system and contribute to the stability of people's livelihood

by strengthening win-win cooperation between platforms. Following last year's segmentation

of middle tier 5G plans and the establishment of plans for the young and elderly, we will

introduce the lowest 5G plan under 40,000 won. Together with the Korea Communications

Commission, MSIT will abolish the "Mobile Device Distribution Improvement Act" and

 transfer user protection provisions to the "Telecommunications Business Act" in order to

promote sound competition among businesses and enhance users’ benefits, while inducing

the launch of mid- to low-priced devices (under 900,000 won) to ease the burden of mobile

device purchase costs.

Furthermore, the government plans to improve the oligopolistic structure of the

 telecommunications market and revitalize competition by supporting telecommunications

facilities utilization and distribution of devices to ensure the soft-landing of the new telecom

munications service provider that has won frequencies through auctions.

Lastly, the government will build more solid digital safety system for strengthened national

safety and cyber threat responses. The government will enact the Digital Service Safety Act

for constant and systematic digital disaster management, and prepare measures to improve

national safety by applying new digital technologies (AI, intelligent CCTV, etc.)

in response to increasing safety threats such as indiscriminate crimes and extreme disasters.

In addition, the Ministry plans to build an AI-based integrated analysis, prevention,

and response system, Cyber Spider by investing KRW 9 billion, in order to prevent increasing

cyber threats such as hacking.

"This year marks the third year of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, and we will be more

proactive when implementing policies for the future of Korea," said Minister of Science and

ICT Lee Jong Ho. "We will create an R&D hub where the world's top researchers conduct

innovative research together, and thoroughly prepare for the AI and digital transformation,

so that Korea can achieve another round of growth surge as a science and technology

powerhouse and model digital nation."

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034,

E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Please refer to the attached PDF.