The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning is still very much in its infancy stage, having been formed just one year ago when President Park Geun-hye took office. So it's understandable that some may not have a full understanding of how the ministry functions. To clear things up, its ministers handed in a progress report at the National Assembly on Friday. Ji Myung-kil reports. The minister and vice-ministers of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning were front and center at the National Assembly on Friday, where they fielded questions from the parliamentary science committee. Some of the questions centered on just what the ministry, founded at the start of the Park Geun-hye administration, does. "It has been a year since the ministry was established. However, what exactly the ministry does is unclear. I've heard there have been a lot of flaws during the working processes." "It seems the Korean people and companies do not understand the policymaking function of the new ministry. For instance, 86 percent of companies think the ministry is functioning to its fullest." To give lawmakers a better understanding of the ministry's mission, Minister Choi Mun-kee laid out the various projects it's involved in. "The government has increased investment in creative economy projects,... projects that promote the integration of information technology with conventional industries, such as agriculture and tourism." The ministry said it would inject some 94 million U.S. dollars in a total of 30 creative economy projects this year, a sharp increase from the 18 million dollars invested last year. The projects are part of the Park Geun-hye administration's vision for a "creative economy," which seeks new and inventive business opportunities and more jobs by fusing information technology and other industries. Just last week, a special law went into effect that creates a new commission that will oversee policies on the information, communication and technology sectors. "The ministry said the new commission will function to improve efficiency in policymaking... by seeking feedback from local firms on the challenges they face... and having them reflected in the country's policies. Ji Myung-kil, Arirang News."

• published: 21 Feb 2014
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