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(Yonhap/KPL) Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung pledged to expand South Korea's research and development (R&D) budget on Monday, vowing to make the country a global leader in an era of intensifying technology competition.
(Yonhap/KPL) Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung pledged to expand South Korea's research and development (R&D) budget on Monday, vowing to make the country a global leader in an era of intensifying technology competition.
Lee, who declared his presidential bid earlier this month and is leading opinion polls for the June 3 presidential election, made the pledge in a Facebook post marking Science Day.
"We need to invest much more boldly. Only investment and an overwhelming level of technology can lead the world," he said, noting that R&D accounts for only 4.4 percent of the national budget.
"In an era of technological hegemony, we will create a scientific powerhouse that leads the world in advanced science and technology," he added.
He specifically pledged to step up support in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, secondary batteries, biotech and vaccines, hydrogen energy and future mobility technologies.
KPL
