Minister of Science and ICT Yoo Sang-im calls for "normalization of policies...so as not to stop the tech and digital growth engine"

Minister of Science and ICT in South Korea, Yoo Sang-im((Korean: 유상임) has called for the unwavering pursuit of core tasks, saying that the country's growth engines of science, technology and digital must not stop amid the impeachment crisis. The ministry plans to carry out its work as normally as possible, except for some sensitive tasks.

"As a member of the cabinet, I feel a heavy responsibility for the recent severe situation," Yoo said at an expanded executive meeting held at the MSIT building in Sejong City on Saturday.

Yoo expressed his determination to carry out policies under the system of acting President Han Deok-soo without any disruptions. "The public service community must take center stage in the crisis situation, including political unrest, domestic economic contraction, and declining foreign recruitment," he said at the expanded cadre meeting. "I call on the executives to do their best in their duties without neglecting anything."

"MSIT is a ministry that leads the future, and science and technology and digital are the growth engines that will drive the future," said Yoo. "To ensure that the growth engine does not stall, I ask you to unwaveringly pursue core tasks even under severe circumstances to overcome low growth and stabilize civil life."

He also provided detailed guidelines for unwavering policy implementation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) - He called for swift and bold policies to secure global leadership in the three game-changing technologies of semiconductors, bio and quantum, commercialization of technologies, fostering human resources, and AI digital transformation. He urged the ministry to ensure the execution and management of the budget and R&D budget, and to be prepared to secure digital communication services and cyber safety.

"We will work more closely with related ministries to promote public livelihood issues such as small businesses and voice phishing, and communicate closely with the National Assembly to enact major laws and secure budgets for the AI Act," Minister Yoo said, adding, "We will put more effort into communication with the field to secure the trust of industry and research." Accordingly, Minister Yoo plans to continue holding meetings on major policy issues and visiting research and industrial sites.

In terms of major telecommunications issues, MSIT plans to release the telecommunications quality assessment, measures to revitalize budget phones, complementary policies for the fourth mobile communication and frequency allocation, 5G specialized network performance, and the selection of a new ICT regulatory sandbox. Among these, the announcement of the quality assessment and sharing of policy results, which have been promoted according to the schedule without major political and industry disagreements, are expected to be carried out normally.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that Minister of Science and ICT Yoo Sang-im did not attend the cabinet meeting during the Dec. 3 emergency martial law. He also expressed his opinion that the emergency martial law imposed by President Yoon Seok-yul was "unconstitutional."