The Budget Office, the National Economic Advisory Council and the National Science and Technology Advisory Council held a joint seminar in Seoul on Sept. 16 on a mid- to long-term national development strategy for 2045. Participants discussed directions for national development ahead of 2045, including responses to AI, climate and energy transition, demographic change and global supply chain restructuring. Speakers addressed youth entry into the labour market as AI spreads and outlined fiscal and R&D roles.

Gu Hyeok-chae (구혁채), first vice minister of science and ICT, attended a ceremony on Sept. 10 at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources marking the completion of the national basic geological map and encouraged geological survey researchers. The map divides areas south of the Korean peninsula\'s armistice line into 359 zones at a 1:50,000 scale and is used as basic data for resource exploration, land use and disaster and safety responses. The project began in 1924 and concluded this year with completion of a map covering parts of Jodo Archipelago in Jindo County, South Jeolla province.