▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a commencement ceremony at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee-R&D support

Lee pledges bold R&D support for scientists, engineers

By Kim Eun-jung

DAEJEON, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Friday the government will step up efforts to strengthen the foundation for scientists and engineers to support research and innovation amid rapidly evolving technologies.

Lee made the pledge during a commencement ceremony at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul.

"We will build a robust safety net for the science and engineering community so that no one will have to halt their research simply due to a lack of money," he said.

Lee stressed efforts to restore the research ecosystem weakened by cuts to research and development (R&D) spending, noting that the government increased the basic research budget by more than 17 percent this year to help emerging researchers.

"We will boldly innovate the research system so that every drop of sweat shed in the research process is recognized as a valuable asset for success," he said.

He attributed South Korea's rise as a technology powerhouse to the dedication of scientists and engineers, encouraging KAIST graduates to pursue bold innovation amid intensifying global competition in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the energy transition.

Lee expressed hope that the newly established College of AI at KAIST will serve as a key foundation for South Korea's goal of becoming one of the world's top three AI powers.

"The government will spare no support to ensure the benefits of AI are widely shared across society," he said, pledging continued investment in future scientific talent and innovation.

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