The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced a call for applications for new specialized complexes in the fields of robots, defense, and secondary batteries.
The designation aims to secure a competitive edge in robots and defense sectors and strengthen the supply chain for secondary batteries.
Interested institutions and companies must submit relevant documents by February 27 next year, with final designation expected in the second half of the year.

The Ministry of Science and ICT is calling for research and development ideas to tackle national strategic technologies and societal challenges.
The contest covers various fields including advanced bio, AI humanoids, and quantum technology, with applications divided into general public and researcher categories.
Selected outstanding ideas will be announced in March next year, with top prizes including the Minister’s Award and a cash prize of 3 million won.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism held the 39th Korea-Japan Tourism Promotion Council in Shiga Prefecture.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization, and discussions focused on expanding tourism exchanges and revitalizing regional tourism.
Government and industry representatives from both countries gathered to discuss various tourism industry issues and explore cooperation strategies.

The National AI Strategy Committee has unveiled an action plan aiming to achieve world No.1 status in physical AI by 2030.
The plan focuses on execution, including expanding data centers and accelerating AI transformation in key industries.
The committee will gather opinions for 20 days before finalizing the plan.

President Lee Jae-myung and Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership during their summit.
The two countries plan to establish a hotline and sign a police cooperation MOU, expanding cooperation in infrastructure, key minerals, and climate change response.
Additionally, they signed the Korea-Laos judicial cooperation treaty and extradition treaty, and renewed the MOU on labor permit system.

President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the importance of the first budget for the AI era in his 2026 budget speech.
Next year’s government R&D budget has been confirmed at a record high of approximately 35.5 trillion won.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to allocate 261.7 billion won for R&D in the agricultural and food sectors, focusing on smart agriculture and green bio industries.