The science and technology community cited the success of the fourth launch of the Nuri and the pass..

The science and technology community cited the success of the fourth launch of the Nuri and the passage of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Basic Law as the “Top 10 Science and Technology News of the Year.”

On the 29th, the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Organizations announced the “2025 Top 10 Science and Technology News of the Year.” The deliberations of experts in science and technology and the results of the public vote were comprehensively reflected. 8,369 scientists and technicians and the general public participated in the referendum.

Four science and technology issues and six research and development achievements were selected for this year’s top 10 science and technology news. These are major news selected from 713 science and technology news.

In the field of science and technology issues, ▲Nuri succeeded in the 4th launch ▲ passing the basic law on AI ▲ revival of the deputy prime minister system ▲ establishment of national scientists and a complete reorganization of fostering science and engineering talents were raised.

The R&D performance section included ▲2D semiconductor commercialization new process development ▲mRNA vaccine principle investigation ▲Dementia-inducing protein control ▲Saltrey micro-robot development ▲PET plastic degradation enzyme development ▲ spinal cord damage treatment mechanism.

“This year’s policy shift symbolically showed the trend of re-establishing science and technology as a key national strategy, and research results that proved global competitiveness in future core areas also received attention,” the KCTO said.

The successful launch of the Nuri spacecraft received so much attention that it ranked at the top of the public vote. Chung Jin-ho, chairman of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, who chaired the selection committee, explained, “The fact that the launch was continuously successful and that the achievements were made with the industry this time played a major role.”

The revival of the science and technology deputy prime minister system and reorganization of talent development were also evaluated as important decisions to prepare for the future. The deputy prime minister system was revived 17 years after the participatory government to oversee science and technology policies and increase competitiveness, including the three major AI powers. In addition, the government aims to create a virtuous cycle of talent by introducing a national scientist system to solve the problem of science and engineering talent.

In the R&D sector, there were many world-first achievements. Most of the research results are the world’s first results, including the investigation of mRNA vaccine principles by Kim Bit-nari, head of the Institute of Basic Science (IBS), the control of dementia-causing proteins by Professor Ahn Ji-jin of Sungkyunkwan University, and the development of saltwater robots by Professor Go Je-sung of Ajou University.

“This year was an important turning point for the Korean science and technology community,” Director Chung said. “There were many studies that changed policies and changed the game of science in preparation for the future.”

Kwak Jae-won, vice chairman of the selection committee, said, “The hardware aspect of Korea’s science and technology has grown enough,” adding, “Our task is that the science and technology community should go in a way that contributes and rewards society.”