Ruling party lawmakers on the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee held a closed-door policy meeting on July 22 with relevant agencies including the Ministry of Science and ICT at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Seoul’s Yeouido district.

Participants included committee chair Song Gi-heon (송기헌) and Han Jun-ho (한준호), the Democratic Party’s floor spokesperson on the committee, as well as other Democratic Party members on the committee.

From the government side, Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈), who also serves as science and ICT minister, attended along with the ministry’s first and second vice ministers and the head of the Office of Science and Technology Innovation. Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Chair Choi Won-ho (최원호) and Korea AeroSpace Administration Vice Administrator Noh Kyung-won (노경원) also attended.

In the broadcasting sector, participants included Kim Jong-cheol (김종철), chair of the Broadcasting and Media Communications Commission, standing commissioner Ko Min-su (고민수), Secretary-General Park Dong-ju (박동주) and Ko Kwang-heon (고광헌), chair of the Broadcasting and Media Communications Deliberation Committee.

The meeting proceeded with a first session for the Ministry of Science and ICT, the nuclear safety commission and the aerospace agency, followed by a second session for work briefings by the Broadcasting and Media Communications Commission and the deliberation committee.

Han told reporters after the meeting that participants shared issues including those related to space launch vehicles and nuclear power generation and safety. He said the meeting focused more on checking how existing projects would proceed through the second half than on new issues.

Budget issues for large projects such as AI data centres and physical AI were also raised. Han said fiscal authorities were trying to cut spending while large-scale projects requiring funding continued to emerge in science and technology, adding that there were remarks about the need but it was not yet at the stage of discussing specific budgets.

Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Jung-a (황정아) said AI issues must be viewed together with power issues in relation to power demand from expanding the AI industry, and stressed the need to strengthen research, development and investment in small modular reactors, or SMRs.

The meeting on broadcasting and communications was held in the nature of an introductory meeting.

Han said the two bodies explained matters to share with the committee among items they had reported to the president. He added that once People Power Party members on the committee are confirmed, the same type of work briefing is expected to be held again.

On concerns that the revised Information and Communications Network Act could infringe freedom of expression and lead to prior censorship, Han said the passed law should be operated first and then assessed. He said it would be possible to discuss whether to revise it again after supplementing manpower and budget and operating it in line with the intent of the revision.

Han also mentioned funding issues for the Broadcasting and Communications Development Fund. He said the fund was largely depleted and there had been aspects of overly lax use of the fund, adding that the meeting also pointed this out.

The People Power Party is expected to complete committee assignments for the second half of the term as early as July 23. Once its members on the committee are finalised, the committee in the second half of the 22nd National Assembly is expected to form its full lineup and begin official activity.