Seoul: The science ministry is set to introduce a collaborative committee with the budget ministry to synchronize the planning process for the national research and development (R and D) budget. This initiative aims to streamline the development of R and D budget plans, addressing prior concerns over significant funding reductions during the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that the new committee will commence its work with the planning of the 2027 budget. The committee is tasked with holding regular meetings to address various topics, such as defining investment strategies and identifying new projects. This move marks a shift from the previous system, where the two ministries primarily engaged in working-level discussions, hindering systematic coordination on significant issues.

For 2026, South Korea's R and D budget has been established at 35.5 trillion won (approximately US$24.3 billion), with the science ministry responsible for managing 30.5 trillion won, or 85.3 percent of the total. In contrast, the former administration made an 8 percent cut to the 2024 R and D budget, reducing it to 9 trillion won, which led to widespread discontent within the scientific community as funds were redirected to other sectors.