This afternoon (August 12), the briefing on the seven seed technologies for future growth engines was held at the Blue House.

Presiding over the meeting, President Lee Jae-myung emphasized that scientific and technological prowess is the primary indicator of national power, and urged preparations in advance for the next economic driver in the era of artificial intelligence.

[President Lee Jae-myung : Whether we become a leader enjoying boundless opportunities or remain a follower constantly exposed to the risk of falling behind depends on our choice.]

President Lee expressed such expectations while mentioning the seven advanced technologies that the government aims to intensively foster for future growth engines.

[President Lee Jae-myung : The seven advanced technologies, the "7 SEED" project, will serve as the next-generation growth engine of our economy and at the same time become core strategic assets of the nation.]

The seven advanced technologies refer to small modular reactors (SMRs), nuclear fusion, renewable energy, quantum technology, aerospace, advanced biotechnology, and advanced materials and components.

Researchers and entrepreneurs attending the meeting unanimously explained the need for research support, investment, and infrastructure expansion in advanced technology fields.

[President Lee Jae-myung : What should the government do, for example?]

[Jeon Nam-jung / Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology : If the government could help properly set up these pilot systems—providing research funds is great, but making it so that they can be used with a lot of flexibility...]

President Lee promised active government support, stating that South Korea must become a leader ahead of other nations in future advanced industries.

[President Lee Jae-myung : National capabilities need to be poured into education, research, and development much more than before. We are mentally prepared for that, and in reality, we have reached a certain level of capacity.]

Earlier, President Lee toured models equipped with advanced technologies, such as a container ship equipped with a small modular reactor and a superconducting-based 50-qubit quantum computer, alongside Minister of Science and ICT Bae Gyung-hoon and others.

[President Lee Jae-myung : What is the manufacturing cost? Is it a secret?]

He also asked attending researchers about the advantages, required budgets, and commercialization levels of the advanced technologies.

Reported by Park Yerim | Video by Jeong Sang-bo and Yoon Hyung | Graphics by Park Sun-soo | Design by Park Tae-young | Produced by SBS Digital News