S&T Trends

Status and Prospects of South Korea's Science Diplomacy: Focusing on Grassroots Science Diplomacy Activies

Science and Technology Diplomacy Platform, Kim, Seunghwan

Abstract

In the increasingly uncertain and complex international relations of the 21st century, scientific behaviors and 

contexts are changing drastically, and more and more countries are seeking to integrate science and technology into 

their diplomatic, economic, and security frameworks from a national strategic perspective. The private sector also 

often serves as a communication and liaison axis, and science and technology diplomacy is now used to enhance a 

country's global image and influence. This is leading to more active involvement of the private science and technology 

community and diplomats with a good understanding of science and technology, as well as an increasing role for 

grassroots scientists and non-governmental scientific organizations.

Now that various forms of collaboration between scientists, engineers, and those involved in public diplomacy are 

needed, on April 20, 2017, scientists, engineers, researchers, international research institutes, science and technology 

policy experts, journalists, and many other people interested in science and technology diplomacy in Korea gathered 

to organize a grassroots group called the Science and Technology Diplomacy Club. Unfortunately, this grassroots 

gathering was put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they gathered again in May 2022 to re-launch the 

Science and Technology Diplomacy Club under a new name, the Science and Technology Diplomacy Platform.

Through these activities, they examined the overall trends from an economic and international policy perspective, 

and discussed the issues of science and technology diplomacy not only in terms of climate change, energy, and space/

oceans, but also from an economic security perspective, such as supply chain and technology control. They also 

surveyed the perceptions of the science and technology and diplomatic communities on the three types of science 

and technology diplomacy, categorized science and technology diplomacy in the light of economic security into four 

areas, and suggested responses accordingly