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President Lee Unveils 17% Research Funding Boost and Self‑Reliant Defense Drive

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  • President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a commencement ceremony at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)
    President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a commencement ceremony at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a commencement ceremony at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • President Lee Jae Myung delivers a congratulatory address during a joint commissioning ceremony of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies held at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)
    President Lee Jae Myung delivers a congratulatory address during a joint commissioning ceremony of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies held at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    President Lee Jae Myung delivers a congratulatory address during a joint commissioning ceremony of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies held at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • President Lee Jae Myung delivers a congratulatory address during a joint commissioning ceremony of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies held at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)
    President Lee Jae Myung delivers a congratulatory address during a joint commissioning ceremony of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies held at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    President Lee Jae Myung delivers a congratulatory address during a joint commissioning ceremony of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies held at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • President Lee Jae Myung (C) salutes the national flag during a joint commissioning ceremony of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies held at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026, accompanied by Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (L) and first lady Kim Hea Kyung (R). (Yonhap)
    President Lee Jae Myung (C) salutes the national flag during a joint commissioning ceremony of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies held at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026, accompanied by Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (L) and first lady Kim Hea Kyung (R). (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    President Lee Jae Myung (C) salutes the national flag during a joint commissioning ceremony of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies held at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 20, 2026, accompanied by Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (L) and first lady Kim Hea Kyung (R). (Yonhap) Source Full size

Expanded Funding Safeguard for Researchers President Lee Jae Myung announced at a KAIST commencement that the government will create a safety net so scientists and engineers can continue work without financial interruption, pledging direct support for ongoing projects [1]. The basic research budget rose by more than 17 percent in 2026, aiming to revive a research ecosystem weakened by earlier R&D cuts [1]. Lee emphasized that every contribution in the research process will be treated as a valuable asset, reinforcing the importance of individual effort [1].

AI Ambitions Anchored by New KAIST College Lee highlighted the newly established College of AI at KAIST as a cornerstone for South Korea’s goal of ranking among the world’s top three AI powers [1]. He promised extensive government backing to ensure AI benefits are widely shared across society [1]. The administration’s focus on artificial intelligence aligns with broader objectives to lead in the energy transition and global technology competition [1].

Defense Policy Shifts Toward Self‑Reliance At a joint commissioning ceremony in Gyeryong, Lee called for a strong, self‑reliant defense, announcing plans to acquire nuclear‑powered submarines [2]. He noted that South Korea’s defense spending now equals 1.4 times North Korea’s GDP, framing the increase as essential amid a shifting international landscape [2]. Large‑scale investment in AI‑enabled, manned‑unmanned weapons will create a “smart, elite” force integrating artificial intelligence and unmanned systems [2].

Political Backdrop Shapes Military Reforms Lee urged the armed forces to purge remnants of the 2024 martial‑law attempt, stressing the need to restore public trust after former President Yoon Suk Yeol received a life sentence for leading the December 2024 insurrection [2]. The former defense minister, Kim Yong‑hyun, was sentenced to 30 years, underscoring the political context of Lee’s defense agenda [2]. Lee reaffirmed his goal to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States within his 2026‑2030 term, linking it to national pride and self‑reliant defense [2].

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Timeline

2017 – The Army, Navy and Air Force academies hold their last joint commissioning ceremony, a milestone not repeated until 2026, highlighting the rarity of unified military events in South Korea [2].

Dec 2024 – Former President Yoon Suk Yeol leads a failed martial‑law bid and a December insurrection; he later receives a life sentence and ex‑Defense Minister Kim Yong‑hyun is sentenced to 30 years, shaping the political backdrop for President Lee’s defense reforms [2].

Oct 2025 – South Korea finalizes a bilateral trade deal with the United States that includes a US$350 billion investment pledge, but President Donald Trump threatens to raise tariffs on Korean auto, lumber and pharma goods from 15 % to 25 % over delays in passing a related investment bill [5].

Dec 4, 2025 – President Lee Jae Myung schedules a high‑level meeting with SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son to discuss AI, semiconductors and infrastructure investment, bringing senior officials including Science Minister Bae Kyung‑hoon and Industry Minister Kim Jung‑kwan [15].

Dec 5, 2025 – In a presidential office meeting, Lee says “AI should become a basic infrastructure comparable to water and sewage systems,” asks Son about the AI bubble, and urges Japan‑Korea AI cooperation; the same day Arm Holdings signs an MoU to train 1,400 chip designers and UNDP urges Korea to lead AI adoption in developing nations [13][14][10][12].

Dec 9‑10, 2025 – Lee presides over a strategic session with Samsung and SK hynix executives; Industry Minister Kim Jung‑kwan presents an integrated road map to boost memory, foundry capacity and AI‑optimized chip development, aiming to secure leadership in the global AI‑chip race [9].

Dec 10, 2025 – Lee outlines a plan to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem, using a “dig two wells” metaphor to stress balanced, regional investment, reduced import reliance, and a 215.9 billion‑won fund through 2032 for next‑generation memory and AI chips, while urging regulatory easing for large‑scale capacity expansion [7][8].

Dec 17, 2025 – Science Minister Bae Kyung‑hoon pledges “AI‑led innovation” across shipbuilding, defense, bio and culture sectors to sustain about 3 % economic growth, announcing expanded AI infrastructure and global tech investment to build world‑class AI models [6].

Jan 29, 2026 – Lee warns that “AI could concentrate wealth among owners of production means while pushing others into low‑paid jobs,” calls for rapid expansion of the social safety net to counter AI‑driven labor polarization, and orders the National Assembly to accelerate related legislation [5].

Feb 4, 2026 – Finance Minister Koo Yun‑cheol declares “AI is a ‘new continent’ that must be open to all citizens,” launches a “super‑innovation economy” blueprint and promises full state support for domestic AI and semiconductor leaders to embed AI nationwide [4].

Feb 5, 2026 – Lee meets 200 scholarship‑holding students and Olympiad winners, stating “mandatory service disrupts careers and causes frustration,” and proposes research‑oriented conscription and the creation of dedicated military research units to retain technical talent [3].

Feb 20, 2026 – At a KAIST commencement, Lee announces a 17 % increase in the basic research budget and pledges “a robust safety net so researchers need not halt work due to lack of money,” while backing the new College of AI as a cornerstone for placing Korea among the world’s top three AI powers [1].

Feb 20, 2026 – In Gyeryong, Lee urges the armed forces to “arm ourselves with resolve and our own strength,” reaffirms his goal to regain wartime OPCON from the United States within his 2026‑2030 term, and announces large‑scale investment in AI‑enabled manned‑unmanned weapons, linking defense autonomy to national pride [2].

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