Prior consultation with relevant ministries is required when providing strategic technology information to foreign countries.

Revision of the National Strategic Technology Promotion Act and its Enforcement Decree… Notification or request for prior consultation within 60 days.

Ministry of Science and ICT [Provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT]

From now on, if foreign governments or organizations request information related to national strategic technologies, academic, industrial, and research institutions that develop or possess such technologies must notify the relevant ministries within 60 days and consult them in advance.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 31st that the revised Enforcement Decree of the 'Special Act on the Promotion of National Strategic Technologies' will come into effect on the 1st of next month.

National strategic technologies are key technologies from a strategic perspective, including diplomacy and security, economy and industry, and new technologies. The government is fostering 50 detailed priority technologies in 12 fields according to the Act.

This implementation follows the revision of the Act in January, establishing a system where, if foreign governments or other entities request important national strategic technology information from academic, industrial, and research entities promoting technology, they must consult with relevant ministries before providing the information.

Under the revision, technology promotion entities must notify the relevant ministries within 60 days of receiving a request for strategic technology information, and if they intend to provide the information, they must request prior consultation with the relevant ministries within 60 days.

The information subject to this regulation includes undisclosed information such as participating personnel, research outcomes, and management information related to strategic research projects classified as security projects under the National Research and Development Innovation Act.

A request for prior consultation is considered a notification.

If it is difficult for the technology promotion entity to determine the relevant ministry for notification or prior consultation, they may notify or request prior consultation from the Minister of Science and ICT.

The ministry that receives the request must review the strategic significance from diplomatic, trade, and national security perspectives, and whether it conflicts with relevant laws and regulations, and provide the result within 20 days from the date of the request.

If the result is not provided within the period, it is considered that prior consultation has been completed.

Kang Sang-wook, Director-General of the Science and Technology Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "This legal revision, in the context of intensified technology hegemony competition, signifies the establishment of a system for the government to responsibly manage important national strategic technology information and proactively identify and support areas requiring technology protection," adding, "We will strive to ensure the system takes root in research fields and contributes to the creation of an ecosystem for fostering and protecting strategic technologies." Yonhap News