With the presidential office's Chief of AI Future Planning and the Minister of Science and ICT both filled by AI experts from corporations, there are growing concerns in the scientific community about an 'AI concentration.' While it is fortunate to have moved away from the concentration of professors from Seoul National University, there are reactions that basic science might be neglected.
President Lee Jae-myung on the 23rd nominated Bae Gyeong-hun, head of LG AI Research Institute, as the Minister of Science and ICT. Following the appointment of Ha Jung-woo, head of Naver Cloud AI Innovation Center, as Chief of AI Future Planning, the control tower of science and technology policy is now entirely staffed by AI experts from corporations. This is interpreted as a determination to fully commit to the pledge of becoming one of the 'three major AI countries,' but there are voices that other fields of science and technology, excluding AI, may be relatively neglected.
The Public Science and Technology Research Labor Union (KSTU) issued a statement on the 24th regarding concerns over Ha and Bae, stating, "There are criticisms that there is too much concentration on specific fields," and added, "While they have various experiences in government committee activities, there are also concerns about their lack of experience in public office and the public sector."
The KSTU stated, "We hope that Chief Ha Jung-woo and Minister candidate Bae Gyeong-hun will remember that the development of AI is only possible when it accompanies the growth of other research and development (R&D) fields and industries," and emphasized, "The Yoon Suk-yeol government must fundamentally restore the research and development ecosystem it destroyed and should spare no effort in providing stable and expanded support and investment in public and basic fields."
Reactions from the scientific community are also not very different. There is a mix of expectations and concerns. Lee Deok-hwan, an emeritus professor at Sogang University (Chemistry and Science Communication), noted, "For over 20 years, the Ministers of Science and ICT have been monopolized by those from Seoul National University’s College of Engineering, so it is very welcome to see an appointment outside of a specific university and the younger age group of the candidates." Candidate Bae is a graduate of Kwangwoon University.
However, the emeritus professor expressed, "AI requires the highest level of creativity, yet it is being labeled with the rigid term 'national' in this field," adding, "I feel that we may be returning to an authoritarian science and technology policy paradigm led by the state." He also expressed concern that policies related to science and technology, as well as environmental and industrial policies, seem to be overly focused on AI, urging for a balance between science and technology.
Yoo In-gwon, a professor of physics at Pusan National University and head of the Policy Committee of the Korean Physical Society, said, "Korea only has technology policies, but there are no proper science policies," and noted, "I will suggest the need for policies supporting basic science, as I know that basic science must underpin AI development."
The expectation and concerns regarding the '40-something Chief and Minister' are also expressed within government-funded research institutes. A deputy director of a research institute stated, "As young leaders from corporations, they are expected to understand new trends well and make bold and innovative attempts, but I worry about whether they can handle nuanced political judgments necessary for issues like PBS (project-based operations system) and the allocation process of R&D budgets between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Science and ICT."
Kwak Si-jong, a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and president of the Basic Science Academic Council, remarked, "If they understand that AI must be developed creatively, they should also realize that it needs to be boosted by basic science," adding, "Since the Chief and Minister candidates are engineering experts, I feel reassured that they will also be aware of trends in other fields like quantum and bio sciences."
Professor Kwak stated, "What is more important than who becomes the Minister is the ability to communicate and the know-how involved in the policy-making process, and I hope they will demonstrate the will and leadership to restore the ecosystem that has been damaged in the last government."
There are also calls for the swift appointment of a Vice Minister in the Ministry of Science and ICT to assist the Chief and Minister. Given that both the Chief and Minister lack experience in political positions, it is suggested that the Vice Minister should be someone with extensive experience in science and technology policy.