In the era of technological hegemony, we must secure technological superiority and strengthen the protection of Korean technologies

•   Secure technological superiority by supporting R&D and strengthen defense against technology leakage to protect economic security

•   Yun-jong Wang, 3rd Deputy National Security Adviser attends meeting and speaks on strengthening global cooperation and pan-governmental defense to technology leakage

•   As countries around the world are rushing to develop high-tech industries, Korea needs bold additional support at the national level

  In the era of technological supremacy competition, where the U.S.-China conflict is intensifying into a high-tech war, it has been argued that Korea needs to strengthen its protection measures for domestic technology in conjunction with policies to secure technological superiority.

  The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) held the third meeting of the Global Economic Affairs Executives Council with distinguished guest Yun-jong Wang, 3rd Deputy National Security Adviser, on Thursday, April 4, at the FKI Tower Conference Center, to discuss ways to promote economic security and protect high-tech industries. 

3rd Deputy National Security Adviser attends and notes the need for cooperation with the U.S., Japan, and India to strengthen core technology development and to protect technology with a pan-governmental technology leakage joint response team

  "As the trade environment becomes more uncertain, it is important to secure cutting-edge technologies that give us an edge and protect our developed technologies to strengthen corporate competitiveness," said Chang-beom Kim, vice chairman of the FKI, in his opening remarks. "Fundamentally, securing cutting-edge technologies means strengthening domestic R&D capabilities, and protecting developed technologies means defending against personnel and technology leakage."

  Yun-jong Wang, 3rd Deputy National Security Adviser, also emphasized the need for Korea to strengthen and protect its technology development capabilities. "As the U.S.-China technological competition intensifies, the U.S. is leading domestic innovation and global discussions to maintain its leadership position in critical emerging technologies, and China is also waging an all-out war for technological independence," Wang said. "We consider maintaining technological superiority in the era of complex crises as not only a matter of domestic policy but also a matter of national security," he said.

  "Domestically, we are implementing systematic technology protection measures through a pan-government technology leak response team, while internationally, we are strengthening cooperation with the United States, Japan, India, and other countries in the full life cycle of joint research, standards, and technology protection of critical emerging technologies."

  In particular, Wang emphasized that geopolitical instability is the biggest variable in corporate decision-making recently and that the weapon to overcome it is technological superiority, urging Korean companies to protect their technology and strengthen their competitiveness.

International competition on high-tech is heating up, and government support is urgently needed

  The current government has announced various measures for fostering high-tech industries, such as shortening licensing procedures and other simplifying of administrative procedures, providing tax credits, and supporting R&D personnel development. However, as other countries such as the U.S., China, Japan, and the EU are providing major support to their high-tech industries, more bold support measures are needed.

  In addition to the systems currently in place to protect technology, such as preventing unauthorized use of IP by filing detailed patent applications and strengthening immigration monitoring of key personnel who need to be restricted from leaving the country, more active protection measures against the leakage of secured technology and talent are urgently needed.

  Meanwhile, various recommendations from the business community were proposed at the council meeting to promote economic security and protect high-tech industries. Major companies suggested strengthening R&D support by expanding the designation of national strategic technologies 1 , diversifying supply chains to secure necessary resources (e.g. rare earths) and increasing support for AI for national security.

1 National Strategic Technology: Strategic technologies at the national level that will contribute to the creation of future growth and economic security and are accompanied by various policy support for intensive fostering when designated. Currently, 12 national strategic technologies have been designated, including semiconductors, advanced bio and aerospace.

It's time to move past the distorted view that "high-tech industry support is a privilege for companies"

  "The world is in the midst of an invisible war to secure advanced technologies," said Bong-man Kim, Vice President of the International Network Department at FKI. "I am concerned that Korean companies, who are on the frontline of this global war, will be left behind on the world stage." "It's time to move past the distorted view that support for high-tech industries is a privilege for companies, and time to provide forward-looking support for Korean companies to properly excel on the world stage," he said.

[Attachment 1] Overview of the 3rd Meeting of the Global Economic Affairs Executives Council

[Attachment 2] FKI Vice Chairman’s Opening Remarks at the 3rd Meeting of the Global Economic Affairs Executives Council