Making the high-speed train fly

책 소개

Preface In 2007, Korea’s leading English newspaper, the Korea Herald, began a series called “Insight into Korea.” This is the second volume of essays, written by the Science and Technology Policy Institute, a state-run think tank, focuses on science and technology policies and research and development activities in Korea. During a twoyear period that began in the spring of 2009, a total of 46 articles on the Korean government’s science and technology policy were published. This volume, Making the High-Speed Train Fly, compiles the nineteen articles that focus on the international aspects of these policies, while the first, Empowering Korea with New Innovations, centered on domestic policies to increase innovation and economic performance. Like the high-speed train that travels down the corridor between Seoul and Busan, Korea’s economy has managed to supercharge its economic development by leveraging its science and technology policies, or S&T policy. While construction did not begin until the early 1990s, plans for the development of the train system began in the 1970s with proposals from France and Japan. Originally based on French TGV designs, the Korean high-speed train, the KTX, eventually developed its own domestic designs and technology to meet the demands of the Korean countryside. This pattern of cooperation with global partnership to develop the science and technology through domestic research and development activities, known as R&D, continues to meet our country’s needs and obligations. Herein this volume will examine the needs of green technology, bridging Korea with international counterparts in the developed and developing worlds, and potential threats and opportunities faced. The first chapter highlights the evolving framework and role for Korea in the emerging green economy. Since the world has ac- cepted, at times grudgingly, global climate change, there is also a resolve to meet this challenge that accompanies it that involves a paradigm shift. On August 15, 2008, President Lee Myung-bak announced a “low-carbon, green growth” strategy that embodies this shift from simply sustainable economic growth towards sustainable green growth. The new humanism recognizes that economic growth has been gained through technological breakthroughs and will continue to come from similar advancements but that it now needs to embrace low-carbon initiatives to become truly sustainable. In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted a temperature increase of 6.4 degrees by 2100 and severe impacts as a result of humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels. For our own survival, it is important that policymakers strike a balance with growth that allows for the coexistence with nature. Therefore, there needs to be a push from industry based on fossil fuels towards green technology. When considering green technology, policymakers can examine the potential, endeavor, and performance aspects of given programs. These correspond to the inputs, activities, and outputs of the innovation process. First, potential or inputs are what organizational infrastructure exists and is needed for a green growth innovation system. Second, the endeavors are the activities of the programs initiated within the economic environment that are conducive to green growth. Lastly, the outputs are the measurable achievements of these activities that can be quantified in terms of benefits to the economy and decrease in negative effects like carbon dioxide. Within this environment, Korea is positioned to lead the global green growth movement. This began with President Lee’s announcement and continued when Korea hosted the G20 summit. During the summit, Korea was uniquely placed to lead discussions on how the global economy might escape from the economic crisis. One reason is that it was able to rebound quickly and effectively after the Asian Economic Crisis. Even in the current crisis, it was able to achieve real growth, one of only a few countries to d…

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