Ministries join hands to boost ‘creative’ economy

Korean foreign affairs and science officials agreed yesterday to join forces to expand the creative economy globally and designated 34 strongholds in science and technology in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas for further development in the areas of science, information and communication technology.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the newly-minted Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding on projects the two ministries could join forces on to bolster Korea’s “science diplomacy.”

Prior to the signing of the MOU, the ministries designated 34 countries and organizations to target for cooperation in science and technology as well as information and communications technology, including organizations in the United States, United Kingdom, India, France, Ethiopia and Brazil. The list also included organizations such as the European Union and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Science Minister Choi Mun-kee and Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se signed the MOU at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in central Seoul. They agreed to engage in scientific research with leading countries, expand ICT networks and also increase exchanges in science and technology.

They also agreed to offer official development assistance to developing nations, assist small and medium entrepreneurs in globalizing and also support programs for exchanging science experts with other countries.

“Launching our excellent human resources management, world-ranking scientific level and ICT prowess worldwide is an important facet of realizing a creative economy,” Yun said yesterday. “Cooperation with the Future Planning Ministry is critical in this moment.”

“Innovation helps to create new job opportunities and markets,” Choi said, and “ultimately is important in building a creative economy.”

The Park Geun-hye administration plans to increase research and development spending for new science and technologies as part of its so-called “creative economy” policy.

BY SARAH KIM [sarahkim@joongang.co.kr]