Park Jin, former overseas minister who served as the primary overseas minister of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, emphasised at a National Assembly seminar on the sixteenth that “there is a need to enact a framework act on international science and technology diplomacy.” He argued that as science and know-how akin to synthetic intelligence (AI) and robotics tackle a bigger position on the diplomatic stage, science diplomacy ought to be supported via laws. Two associated payments, sponsored by Rep. Lee Jung-heon of the Democratic Party of Korea and Rep. Kim Gun of the People Power Party, are at present pending in standing committees of the National Assembly. Let us take a more in-depth have a look at the 2 payments.
According to political circles on the 18th, Park delivered a particular lecture on the theme “The Future Strategy of Science Diplomacy in the AI Era” at a seminar hosted by the National Assembly’s Global Diplomacy and Security Forum on the sixteenth. “As we live in an era where science becomes diplomacy, the government needs to introduce a chief science advisor system, and the National Assembly needs to enact a framework act on international science and technology diplomacy,” he instructed. Park notably careworn to the National Assembly that legislative help for science diplomacy is urgently wanted.
As of that day, two associated payments have been launched and are pending within the National Assembly. The distinguished examples are Rep. Lee Jung-heon’s “Act on the Promotion of International Cooperation in Science and Technology,” pending within the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, and Rep. Kim Gun’s “Framework Act on International Science and Technology Diplomacy,” pending within the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.
First, Lee’s invoice is characterised by having the Minister of Science and ICT lead worldwide cooperation in science and know-how. Looking on the particulars, the invoice supplies for the Minister of Science and ICT to ascertain and implement a fundamental plan and annual implementation plans for worldwide cooperation in science and know-how, and to arrange a “Science and Technology International Cooperation Strategy Committee” below the Prime Minister for coverage deliberation.
The invoice additionally supplies for the Minister of Science and ICT to designate nationwide analysis and improvement initiatives for worldwide cooperation in science and know-how and grant help exceptions, whereas additionally establishing grounds for help to pursue cooperation with overseas governments and to draw glorious abroad researchers and analysis establishments so as to invigorate worldwide cooperation in science and know-how. In addition, it contains promotion measures akin to supporting worldwide cooperation actions by worldwide organizations and by every home entity concerned in worldwide science and know-how cooperation.
By distinction, Kim’s invoice assigns the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the central position in worldwide cooperation in science and know-how. Specifically, it establishes a Science and Technology Diplomacy Deliberation Committee below the Prime Minister to deal with main insurance policies and plans on science and know-how diplomacy, with the Prime Minister serving as chairperson and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and a minister of a related ministry designated by the Prime Minister serving as vice chairpersons. The invoice can also be characterised by having the Minister of Foreign Affairs set up a fundamental plan for science and know-how diplomacy each 5 years and, after receiving implementation plans from related ministries, set up an annual implementation plan every year.
In addition, the invoice assigns roles in order that abroad diplomatic missions can promote science and know-how cooperation with host nations and perform associated public diplomacy actions, and permits the Minister of Foreign Affairs to designate abroad diplomatic missions as precedence hubs for science and know-how diplomacy.
The current surge in efforts to enact science diplomacy laws stems from rising considerations that, though an period has arrived during which science and know-how decide nationwide competitiveness, there’s a lack of techniques that may help and promote worldwide cooperation in science and know-how on the nationwide degree.
Regarding the explanation for proposing his invoice, Lee defined that “currently, the laws, systems, and implementation frameworks that could support international cooperation in science and technology strategically and comprehensively at the national level are inadequate.” Kim stated, “The government is required to pursue policies to promote cooperation in the field of science and technology with foreign countries and international organizations, but this remains at a declaratory level, so the legal foundation for systematically pursuing diplomacy that utilizes science and technology is insufficient.”
Pointing to the 2 science diplomacy payments, Park urged, “The two bills take different approaches, but their goal is the same,” including, “The Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, where the bills are pending, must cooperate closely to swiftly complete the institutional foundation for science diplomacy.”
