Kang Do-hyun, the second vice science minister, recently toured a cleanroom facility for semiconductor production at the Fusion Technology Center located on Hanyang University's Seoul campus. This visit took place on June 12 and is part of efforts to strengthen the country's scientific capabilities. South Korea is considering proposing a substantial budget of nearly 30 trillion won ($21.6 billion) for state-backed scientific research and development. Park Sang-ook, senior presidential secretary for science and technology, mentioned that the proposed budget includes a 24.8 trillion won plan for technology advancement, facility augmentation, and the operation of state-backed institutions. This proposed budget represents a significant increase from the previously finalized amount for the year, aiming to address concerns about job insecurity for scientists and to further advance the country's technological capabilities in areas such as semiconductor chips and space. Additionally, the restored budget would allow South Korea to focus on research in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum technology.