First off, the Sci & Tech Forum, which is an organization of more than 40 assemblymen from several parties, as well as some other members from the industries, intends to spread diverse opinions about development policy for cutting-edge science technologies including IT, BT and technology lawmaking, stressing that science technology is a growth engine of our economy.
The Digital CEO Summit also intends to expedite the progress of a national income of $20,000 per capita and to prepare an omni directional network to spread the impact of the digital technology industries. CEOs from IT fields such as semiconductors, displays, mobile phones, broadband Internet services, and online games meet with CEOs from strongly-built traditional industries like automobile manufacturing, shipbuilding, and steel production at this summit.
Diverse parliamentary politics
Assemblyman Hong, always concerned about Korea's science technology development, is currently engaged in parliamentary politics in connection with Space Development Promotion Law, specifically damage compensation. Hong explained: "Relevant experts gathered at the National Assembly Hall on Aug. 30. They discussed a wide range of issues including the entire compensation limits for damage, business provider compensation bounds for damage, and the minimum of liability insurance. They sought to draw up a law regarding such compensation for damage which is derived from blasting off for space development."
Regarding information and telecommunication, the Assemblyman pointed out that service is not adequate today in comparison with IPTV and Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) technology development due to institutional inertia. In that respect, he said that broadcasting communication convergence must be encouraged so that, for instance, broadcasting can be serviced through Internet, mobile phone, or other communication means. In relation to science technology, Dr. Hong noted; "Now is the time when we have to pay attention to quality rather than quantity," adding that international competition with no national boundaries is not dependent on how many SCI papers universities have announced, but rather how they have forged creative knowledge into commercialized business.
Universities at home have to free themselves from the idea that they can become prestigious only when their professors announce many academic papers, Hong maintained. Hong introduced that even KAIST doesn't count paper numbers these days, adding that the world of science at home has to change its goal to high-quality, rather than large-quantity, research.
To succeed in intellectual competition with top level academics, the Assemblyman further emphasized that domestic universities need to break their established structures. In particular, he stressed the importance of a global business mind, pointing out that our businesses can't thrive if we don't meet the global business concept because language, culture and religion differ in each and every country. To do global business, Hong said, science education and research forms also have to be changed to a global mindset.
Changing to match the global culture
With regard to the Daedeok R&D Special Zone, the Assemblyman expressed grave concern, saying that the Special Zone still does not seem to have a firm structure and researchers working in the Zone don't see any differences since the Zone was established.
On the one hand, Hong urged the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) to encourage such business commercialization at Daedeok, adding that the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) is more keen on encouraging corporate business commercialization than is MOST.
On the other hand, Hong emphasized that the Daedeok R&D Special Zone's role is important in nurturing the hi-tech field because Korea's massproduction capabilities can't compete with China in terms of labor costs. In that regard, the Assemblyman said it is disappointing that there is not enough land for large corporations to move in Daedeok so that such a hi-tech field can be nurtured.
As a bridging role to link the world of science technology and the National Assembly, Hong commits himself to becoming a communication channel between on-the-spot and political circles. In conjunction with such pending issues, Hong is devoting many efforts to solving the science technology education problem based on his long experience. He has had first-hand experience in science technology education as the president of KAIST and also facilitating a science technology centered culture within the National Assembly. He further commits himself to forging a society in which scientists are treated in a befitting manner, and does his best to equip Korea with first rate science technology infrastructure in order that the nation can enjoy the benefits of an affluent national development.
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