The seminar was organized to highlight the importance of economic security and national strategic technologies, and to explore directions for international cooperation in the context of global competition.

Director Yongseok Seo of the KAIST Center for Policy Research on National Future Strategic Technologies, and Executive Director Jong Duk Kim of the Trade and Security Department at KIEP, began the seminar with opening remarks, followed by in-depth presentations and discussions by experts from various fields.

Session 1 focused on economic security and national strategic technologies. Professor Hyun Ju Jung of KAIST Department of Technology Management presented on “Economic Security and National Strategic Technologies,” and Director Myung Jong Noh of the Ministry of Science and ICT discussed “The First Basic Plan for National Strategic Technologies Development.”

A subsequent panel discussion, featuring experts such as Director Seong-Joo Hong of STEPI, Director Kyung Mo Sung of STEPI, and Dr. Hyoungmin Han of KIEP, explored international cooperation and industrial strategies through national strategic technologies, sharing diverse insights.

In the afternoon session, President Kwang Hyung Lee of KAIST and Chairman Dong Cheon Shin of the NRC delivered welcoming addresses, emphasizing the significance of national strategic technologies and the necessity of international cooperation to address economic security challenges.

Session 2 shifted the focus to the future of and challenges in the advanced bio sector. Dean Daesoo Kim of KAIST College of Life Science and Bioengineering presented on economic security and strategic technologies in the bio sector, while Director Heung-Yeol Kim of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) highlighted global trends in advanced bio technologies and the importance of international cooperation.

The panel discussion featured experts such as Director Dae Hee Lee of KRIBB, Professor Jung Gi-jun of KAIST, and Dr. Sunghun Cho of KIEP, who engaged in an in-depth exploration of strategies for bio technology advancement and global collaboration.

Session 3 addressed the future and challenges in the shipbuilding and marine industries. Principal Researcher Hanshin Seol of the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering presented on “R&D Challenges and the Future of the Shipbuilding and Marine Sectors.” Professor Minsu Yang of the Hanbat National University discussed “The Current Status and Strategies for Korea-U.S. Defense Cooperation in the Shipbuilding Sector.”

This was followed by a panel discussion, featuring Vice President Chang Beom Ahn of the Korea Defense Systems Safety Association, Professor Kyung Won Oh of Howon University, and Research Fellow Eun Chang Lee of the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, who proposed their solutions for major challenges and strategic collaborations in the shipbuilding and marine industries.

The seminar provided a meaningful platform for experts from various fields, including economics, bio, and marine sectors, to share insights on the importance of national strategic technologies and to explore opportunities for collaboration and innovation. It was widely regarded as a valuable opportunity to enhance understanding and foster partnerships in addressing Korea’s economic security challenges in a globally competitive environment.

- Title: Korea's Economic Security and National Strategic Technologies: Paths to Cooperation in Global Competition

- Topic: Exploring Korea's Competitiveness and International Cooperation Strategies in Key National Strategic Technology Sectors Related to Economic Security

- Date & Time: Tuesday, December 2, 2024, 09:00-18:00

- Venue: Best Western Plus Hotel, Sejong

- Organizers: National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences (NRC), Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), KAIST Center for Policy Research on National Future Strategic Technologies

- Contact: Hyung Jun Yoon, Senior Researcher, Economic Security Team (hjyoon@kiep.go.kr)