홍남기 "내년 시스템반도체 등에 4.7조 투자...혁신성장 확산" + 7월 ICT 수지 47.7억불 흑자

South Korea is getting ready to take a leading position in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
And to do so, the government has announced billions of dollars in investment to support related sectors, like 5G, AI and new semiconductors.
Our Hong Yoo has the details.
South Korea's finance minister Hong Nam-ki said the government will invest more than 3.8 billion U.S. dollars next year in spreading innovation to all sectors of industry.
During a meeting held at the Export-Import Bank of Korea on Wednesday morning, Hong said more than 1.4 billion dollars will be used to develop industries related to data, 5G networks, and AI, also known as the 'DNA' sector.
And more than 2.4 billion dollars will be used for system semiconductors, bio health, and future cars.
Laying out the steps of innovation, he said first, funds for core infrastructure needed for the 'DNA' sector will be increased.
Then, the government aims to spread innovation to the development of technology for hydrogen and electric car batteries, create a testbed for system semiconductors, and make a big data platform for medical data-centered-hospitals, through investment in the three new industries.
Meanwhile, the Information and Communications Technology sector saw a trade surplus of more than 4.7 billion dollars in July.
But it also showed a more than 20 percent fall in exports due to a slump in semiconductors, displays, and mobile phones, the three main ICT export items.
Finance minister Hong wrapped up the meeting by saying he will speed up innovation by strengthening labor and regulations.
He plans to train more than 200-thousand people as AI experts and expand the proactive regulatory roadmap based on future predictions to all ministries by 2023.
Hong Yoo, Arirang News.