The Ministry of Science and ICT said a South Korean government delegation attended the fifth meeting of the Quantum Development Group (QDG) held in London from March 31 to April 1.

The Quantum Development Group is an international consultative body launched in July 2024 to build an ecosystem based on quantum information science and technology and to protect technology among participating countries. It discusses expanding cooperation in 4 areas: investment, supply chains, industry outlook and technology protection. South Korea, as a joint lead country in investment, is focusing on promoting private investment and creating conditions for quantum investment.

A total of 13 countries, including South Korea, attended the meeting. South Korea sent a government delegation made up of the foreign ministry and the science ministry, led by Park Jong-han (박종한), director-general for economic diplomacy coordination at the foreign ministry, as chief representative.

The meeting began with opening remarks by Lord Patrick Vallance, a minister at the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Member countries agreed that quantum technology should develop in a way that is safe and trustworthy and also contributes to global economic prosperity.

Talks focused on 3 main areas: security, investment and standards. Participants discussed strengthening research and investment security, creating a favourable investment environment by expanding cooperation between governments and investors, and promoting industrialisation by enhancing cooperation on standardisation.

Park said, "To build a quantum ecosystem, facilitating trade in quantum-related products among member countries is most important." He added, "There is a need to continue close cooperation among Quantum Development Group member countries."

The meeting also announced the launch of a "quantum technology consultative body" in which major South Korean companies including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and SK Telecom will participate to discuss joint research and development in quantum technology and industry-academia-research cooperation. Plans to form a quantum cluster and to 추진계획 a quantum computer manufacturing challenge were also announced.