The National Science and Technology Advisory Council said on Feb. 27 it appointed 20 private-sector members for the first term under the Lee Jae-myung government.

The council is the top decision-making body in science and technology chaired by the president. It advises the president on strategies and systems for developing science and technology and deliberates on agendas including mid- to long-term science and technology policy and technology acquisition strategies, improvements to national research and development systems, and budget allocations.

The first-term private-sector members appointed this time total 20, including 10 advisory members and 10 deliberation members. Their terms run until Feb. 25, 2027. They are composed of leading scholars and experts in areas including national strategic technologies, basic science and talent development.

To strengthen policy linkage and communication with presidential committees in strategic technologies, it appointed Jin-woo Shin (신진우), a member of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy Committee, and Seung-wook Ji (지승욱), a member of the National Bio Committee, as deliberation members.

With the formation of the first-term advisory council now completed following the start of the term of Vice Chair Kyung-soo Lee (이경수) on Dec. 28 last year, the first-term advisory council is set to begin full-scale activities.