Science Minister Lee Jong-ho announces the government's plan to reduce its budget for major R&D projects in 2024, during a press conference at the Government Complex Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Park Jae-hyuk



The government decided to cut its spending next year on major state-sponsored scientific research activities by 13.9 percent year-on-year to 21.5 trillion won ($16 billion) from 24.9 trillion won, the science ministry said Tuesday.



The decision was made after President Yoon Suk Yeol unexpectedly instructed his officials in June to reconsider state-run research and development (R&D) projects from scratch and root out what he referred to as a cartel that seeks to protect their vested interests in the R&D sector.



This is the first time in eight years that the government decided to reduce its budget for major R&D projects before the National Assembly's approval. If lawmakers pass the government's proposal, this will be the first time in three decades for Korea to cut its R&D budget.



According to the science ministry, "major R&Ds" refer to projects under the ministry's supervision.



The finance ministry also seeks to cut its spending on general R&D, which involves the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and institutes of science and technology in Gwangju, Daegu and Ulsan, as well as that undertaken by scientists' associations. Given this, the government's overall R&D budget for next year is expected to decrease sharply from this year's 31 trillion won.



Science Minister Lee Jong-ho attributed the planned budget cut to the previous Moon Jae-in administration's reckless expenditure. But opposition parties view insufficient tax revenue as the main reason for the decision.



In response to concerns over a major setback in basic science studies, the minister emphasized that the government will increase investment in biotech, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum, semiconductors, rechargeable batteries and space sectors.



He also said the government will encourage collaborations with foreign researchers, following the president's order.



The Scientists and Engineers Association of National Research Institutes, however, pointed out that state-run research institutes have already been baffled by the abrupt order to arrange joint research with foreign institutions.



"The institutes should stop being hasty in following the president's abrupt order to increase collaborations with foreign researchers," the association said in a statement last month.



Given that the science ministry plans to introduce an evaluation system to abolish underperforming R&D projects, concerns are also growing that Korea could go against the global trend of accepting failures for the purpose of innovation.



In addition, a large-scale brain drain has been anticipated as the science ministry seeks to cut research allowances for employees of state-run research institutes.



"Due to the budget cut, I finally decided to accept the offer for a job in a European country," an employee of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology wrote on Blind, an anonymous chat app for verified employees.



Amid the criticism, speculation is growing that the R&D budget may not be passed in the National Assembly, where the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) holds the majority.



"The science ministry ignored laws and regulations when drawing up the R&D budget," Rep. Cho Seung-rae of the DPK said Tuesday. "The president should apologize to researchers and scientists for his remarks on 'R&D cartel.'"



