Seoul: The government on Friday unveiled a plan to allocate a record-breaking 35.3 trillion won (US$25.1 billion) for research and development projects in 2026 in a move to enhance productivity and develop new growth engines. The decision was reached at a meeting of the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology chaired by President Lee Jae Myung, with details set to be submitted to the National Assembly in the near future.
According to Lao News Agency, the amount, the highest of its kind, marks a 19.3 percent spike from this year's 29.6 trillion-won R and D budget, as stated by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Of the total, 2.3 trillion won will be dedicated to advancing the "transformation of the economy and society through artificial intelligence (AI) technology," which is more than double from 2025. The ministry emphasized avoiding sporadic development of technologies and focusing on enhancing homegrown capabilities throughout the AI ecosystem to gain a competitive edge globally.
The government aims to integrate AI across various industries and expand its adoption in the public sector, including administration, healthcare, and defense. An allocation of 2.6 trillion won will fuel the development of renewable energy technologies, marking a 19.1 percent increase from this year. Efforts will be concentrated on accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, supporting the advancement of related homegrown technologies.
A total of 8.5 trillion won will be directed towards fostering cutting-edge industries, reflecting a 29.9 percent increase from 2025. The government plans to focus on securing core technologies in high-potential areas like quantum computing and synthetic biology, while also making early strides in fields with strong public interest, including self-driving and robotics technologies.
The defense-related R and D budget will see a 25.3 percent increase to 3.9 trillion won, supporting endeavors to secure omnidirectional deterrence capabilities across various domains, including space and cyber. Furthermore, basic science research will receive a boost with a 3.4 trillion won budget, up 14.6 percent from this year, providing scholars with a more liberal, sustainable, and stable research environment.
In addition, 1.3 trillion won will be allocated to attract competitive experts from abroad, and 4 trillion won will enhance the capabilities of state-funded research institutes, the ministry added.