South Korea has launched the Quantum Strategy Committee, a high-level policy body to oversee national quantum science and technology initiatives. The committee, chaired by Acting Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, held its first meeting on March 12 at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) in Daejeon. The government announced a ₩20 billion ($13.8 million) annual quantum investment fund, totaling ₩80 billion ($55 million) over four years, to support startups, drive commercialization, and train 2,500 researchers. Choi emphasized the importance of quantum technology for economic and national security.
South Korea aims to accelerate R&D, talent development, and industrial applications in the field as part of its broader Quantum Initiative. Vice Minister of Science and ICT Lee Chang-yoon introduced the committee and outlined the government’s vision during a pre-briefing at the Government Seoul Building on March 12. However, expectations for additional quantum funding were not met, raising concerns about whether the investment is sufficient to compete globally.
The South Korean government has increased its quantum investment for 2025 to ₩198 billion ($136 million), a 51.4% rise from the previous year. However, the Ministry of Science and ICT confirmed that no extra funds would be allocated through a supplementary budget despite concerns that the country’s spending is significantly lower than that of global competitors. The United States, China, and the United Kingdom have committed multi-billion-dollar budgets to quantum computing, communication, and sensing technologies, highlighting South Korea’s relatively limited funding.
To strengthen its long-term strategy, the government is launching a ₩1 trillion ($687 million) Science and Technology Innovation Fund to advance national strategic technologies. Half of the fund will come from state-backed banks like Shinhan Bank and the Industrial Bank of Korea, while the remaining ₩500 billion will be raised from venture capital firms and accelerators. A dedicated portion of ₩20 billion ($15 million) per year will be set aside for quantum startups, totaling ₩80 billion ($60 million) over four years. Additional quantum-related investments could also emerge from other segments of the fund.
Workforce development is another key focus, with plans to train 2,500 researchers to support the expanding quantum ecosystem. Government officials stress the critical role of quantum technology in economic, security, and scientific advancements.
Applications such as quantum computing, secure quantum communication, and highly sensitive quantum sensors are expected to play a crucial role in cybersecurity and defense.
The newly established Quantum Strategy Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister and including private experts, will oversee the country’s quantum roadmap. The committee was delayed by three months due to political instability, raising concerns about South Korea’s ability to keep pace with rapid international advancements. However, it is now prioritizing flagship projects, including developing 1,000-qubit quantum computers, quantum repeaters, and GPS-free quantum navigation systems.
Han Sang-wook, President of the Korea Quantum Information Science Association, emphasized that the government must act as a catalyst by announcing targeted investment plans and encouraging corporations to expand their role in quantum advancements.
Despite establishing the Quantum Strategy Committee and the ₩1 trillion Science and Technology Innovation Fund, concerns persist over the scale of investment compared to global competitors.
The government projects that the domestic quantum industry will grow nearly tenfold to $24.6 billion by 2033, presenting a significant opportunity for South Korea to emerge as a global leader. However, experts warn that sustained growth will require stronger collaboration between public and private sectors to ensure the country remains competitive in this rapidly evolving field.
