South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT held a public hearing on May 28 to prepare the sixth national science and technology master plan for 2026 to 2030.

The master plan is the top statutory plan in the science and technology field, drawn up under the Framework Act on Science and Technology. It is implemented jointly by central government agencies and local governments through annual implementation plans. A mid- to long-term investment strategy for the national research and development budget and sectoral plans drawn up by multiple ministries are also formulated based on the master plan.

Earlier, the ministry formed a drafting committee of about 90 experts spanning science and technology as well as social, humanities and economic fields. Starting with a kickoff meeting chaired by the deputy prime minister in January, it produced a draft master plan through a general committee, eight subcommittee meetings and four relay on-site meetings.

On the day, the ministry's Office of Science and Technology Innovation presented the master plan's vision and proposed key tasks under four major strategies. It also held a free discussion to hear proposals on the current government's science and technology policy direction after gathering related opinions. The discussion was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Science and ICT Minister Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈).

In the discussion, field experts called for balanced investment in basic and fundamental areas and strengthening an environment for immersion in research. They stressed the urgency of technology development for an artificial intelligence transition and expanding power and data center infrastructure. The government promised to closely link a technology management system through pan-ministerial cooperation centered on a deputy-prime-minister system.

The ministry will compile opinions raised at the hearing and from related ministries and finalize the master plan through deliberation and resolution by the National Science and Technology Advisory Council at the end of next month.

Bae said, "To complete research and development innovation and science and technology policies that the public can feel, we will continue to communicate with the field even after the hearing and will spare no full support."