The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said Tuesday it would carry out an organizational reshuffle to better support technological convergence and advancement

“The reorganization is aimed at speeding up the ongoing reform work at the right time,” said Chang Seok-young, the ministry’s policy planning director.

“With the administration entering its third year, we will ramp up efforts to achieve the results of the creative economy initiative earlier.”

The reshuffle, aimed at supporting convergence across industries, research and development and industrial adoption of new technology, is scheduled to take effect from March 16. 

The current ICT and Broadcasting Policy Office will be streamlined to focus only on ICT, which includes a policy for technological convergence, changes in related industries and responses to cyberattacks.

A new division will be established under the office to nurture new growth industries, particularly those related to the Internet of Things and financial technology.

The revamped ICT division will help Korean companies, including small- and medium-sized firms, to better respond to the ever-evolving global business environment.

Another new division, tentatively named “ICT Global Partner Team,” is planned to support the overseas expansion of local ICT firms, especially smaller start-ups whose resources are limited.

Chang, the ministry director, also hinted that the government was working on a new cybersecurity policy office amid growing concerns about the extended use of the Internet and the rapidly emerging digital economy.

When it comes to its science technology policy, the ministry plans to pour more resources into basic science to secure fundamental technologies related to future industries.

As part of the plans, the current space and nuclear policy bureau will be elevated to a separate policy office to bolster related R&D activities.

The role of the research community support division will be strengthened to prompt the commercialization of R&D results and support their funding.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)