President Sang-Seon Kim of KISTEP appeared on YTN Science 'Science Today' and shared his insights on the future prospects and national science and technology(S&T) strategies of the Post-COVID-19 era. The interview video and full text can be found at the link below.

https://science.ytn.co.kr/program/program_view.php?s_mcd=0082&s_hcd=&key=202006081633478523



■ Sang-Seon Kim / President, KISTEP

[Interviewer]
It has been sixth months since the first outbreak of the novel coronavirus. While we are effectively managing the ongoing spread, there is movements from every area to prepare for what will come after COVID-19. In regards to the science and technology, let's find out how we are preparing the COVID-19 response strategy. I'm with Sang-Seon Kim, president of KISTEP. Hello. It's already June, it might be because of COVID-19, but it feels like the year is passing by quickly. We are very worried since COVID-19 does not seem to be subsiding any time soon. Could you please share with us your take on the current situation and what will it develop into?

[President Kim]
As it was aforementioned in the news, the pandemic started in December of last year and is spreading globally. According to recent statistics, the number of confirmed cases around the world has already exceeded 7 million, and tragically, more than 400,000 people have died. Thanks to the dedication of our government, private sector, nurses, and medical staffs in the early stages, our country seems to be globally acknowledged as a model case. Once again, I would like to thank the dedicated medical staffs for their hard work. The problem is, no one can predict when it will end. It has been reported that some are concerned that, overlapped with the following flu season, we might face worse situation in this fall. Therefore, we should not only contain the current situation, but also establish the fundamental strategy for responding to the Post-Pandemic era.

[Interviewer]
As you said, Korea joined the executive board of the World Health Organization (WHO) in recognition of its achievements, and has been transferring its know-hows to countries around the world. However, the pandemic is still ongoing. I believe you are saying that we should now be prepared for what will come after COVID-19 has passed. So, what are the efforts KISTEP demonstrating for the Post-COVID-19 era?

[President Kim]
In all aspects of our society we are preparing for response to what will come in Post-COVID-19 era. The S&T field is not an exception. KISTEP had held urgent response series for two months from April to May, joined by the scientific and technological experts. A total of four forums was held to diagnose the Post-COVID-19 era and identify the technologies needed. On June 17^th, based on examined ideas, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)'s Science, Technology and Innovation Office will announce the "Post-COVID-19 Science and Technology Strategical Direction,” and will be expanded after collecting opinions from other areas.

[Interviewer]
Our lives have changed a great deal since the spread of the coronavirus. Telecommuting has become more common, and even the job interviews are being held online. I wonder what changes will shape our society in the Post-COVID-era.

[President Kim]
As everyone might have felt it by now, there is not a single area that hasn't not been changed by this. There seems to be changes in lifestyle, education, health care, logistics, transportation, and culture. Even the funeral service or weddings are streamed online. The UK had set up virtual parliament for the first time in 600 years in its history. Some claims that the new timeline is ‘After Corona’ (AC) and ‘Before Corona’ (BC). These changes states that the current pandemic is a substantial turning point. Perhaps the change is irreversible. It's a fundamental one. But what is the keyword that can best describe it? Among others, I would like to point out two things. One is ‘Untact,’ and another is ‘Digital Transition.’ We are diverging from one another in terms of social distance while bringing closer together in terms of digital distance. I expect that this change will accelerate in the future. The digital transition did happen overnight, but it was progressing with the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Given the obstacle of the transition is inertia and difficulty in mediating interests within our society, COVID-19 had somewhat served as a troubleshooter and catalyst in a way. In this regard, if we successfully overcome the crisis, we can turn this into another opportunity.

[Interviewer]
Of course, as it still is. Although many industries are struggling due to the COVID-19, 4IR has once again attracted attention. As it is evident from untact industry thriving with growing demands for telecommunication and online education. What is the lesson that our society can draw out from the pandemic?

[President Kim]
We spent a lot of money and time because of the pandemic. In order for them to not to go to waste, we need to learn from it and transform it into another opportunity. I can think of a few lesson we can take out of it. Personally, I have learned that personal hygiene is vital. Every year, I suffer from the flu in between seasons, but this year was an exception. In fact, the number of patients with eye diseases or infectious diseases in local hospitals has decreased by more than 50 percent. This is something that we had unintentionally benefitted from washing hand, social distancing, wearing mask, and practicing cough etiquette. At the global level, it gives us a valuable perspective on how humanity has been exploiting the Earth. It is us that overuse global resources that s natural disasters as resultant of anthropogenic climate change and global warming. The ongoing pandemics is also the consequence of humanity triggering the reactivation of latent virus that had always exists somewhere in the world. According to experts, there are over a million species of viruses on our planet. If mere one percent of them are active, disasters at a scale like that of COVID-19 can come about 10,000 more times. I think it was an opportunity to be ed that a stronger virus could come about anytime even after the currently spreading virus passes.

[Interviewer]
COVID-19 crisis strengthened personal hygiene awareness and prevention capacities, and heightened the severity of the global environmental crisis. What else is there?

[President Kim]
The global problems, including COVID-19, cannot be solved solely by efforts of a country. We need close cooperation around the world. It was an opportunity for us to realize how unstable the Global Value Chain, which has been the center of the global economy, is. Also, looking at the domestic situation, it was an opportunity to realize once again the significance of the government's role, transparent disclosure of information, voluntary and active participation of the entire civilians, and the dedicated sacrifice of medical personnel and be grateful for them. Finally, we need to address the income gaps, digital gaps, information security, and fake news.

[Interviewer]
I hope that the global challenges brought about by COVID-19 could be transformed into driving force for new opportunities and growth. As you said earlier, life in Post-COVID-19 era heralds a complete transformation. So how do we come up with the ‘Post-COVID-19 Science and Technology Strategy’?

[President Kim]
National science and technology should be established for the long term and requires continuous and stable support. It should not be swayed by external factors but make use of lessons learned from the pandemics and convert it into an opportunity.
Firstly, in the short term, to prevent the contraction of private R&D, research personnel and R&D capabilities should be maintained with expanding flexibility in the use of national R&D funds.
Secondly, the verified K-diagnosis and quarantine systems should be systematize, and standardize to strengthen our response system for the potential second wave in the fall and the next epidemic. Also, we should share our know-hows and cooperate with countries around the world to tackle the global crisis together.
Third, we should provide full support in the biohealth sector, one of the three major areas of the national research and development, for it to develop into a future growth engine following the semiconductors.
Fourthly, we should accelerate digital transformation by focusing on developing core technologies, piloting projects for commercialization, easing the laws and regulations, and creating an ecosystem related to untact industry. For your information, it can instantly cross borders and directly target home turf around the world.
Fifthly, we should solve the newly generated problems as the progress of digital transformation accelerates ─ the digital divide, information security, and infodemics and resultant fake news.
Lastly, we should develop technology and strengthen international cooperation to combat global challenges such as energy, resources, environment, disasters, and global warming.

[Interviewer]
Securing the budget seems like the most important thing in pushing ahead with these measures as planned. What do you think?

[President Kim]
The R&D budget for enhancing the nation's innovation capabilities must be expanded as planned no matter what the challenges may be. As corporate R&D activity contracts, the expansion on government R&D budget is crucial in strengthening our future resilience. During the 1997 IMF financial crisis and the 2008 financial crisis, we have expanded the government's R&D investment in the face of difficult economic conditions, and it was quintessential to our transition to the information society. Fortunately, 2021 national R&D budget spending limit has increased by more than 700 billion won compared to that of this year. Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology, held this May, stipulated the direction of next year’s national R&D investment be "fast and bold to maximize the capacity of innovation and overcome the economic crisis initiated by COVID-19.” The science and technology community showed gratitude toward government’s active effort in expanding R&D investment and, in return, will deliver globally recognized performance. Once again, we will join forces to overcome the pandemic, and make use of it as another opportunity to expand into the global market.

[Interviewer]
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us today.