S. Korea seeks global role in 'green technology' sector: official

SEOUL, March 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is seeking a greater global role in the
eco-friendly green technology sector, which can become a future economic growth
engine, a senior aide to President Lee Myung-bak said Monday.

Park Chan-mo, the special presidential advisor for science and technology, said
in a gathering hosted by the Korea Research Council for Industrial Science and
Technology that green technology is vital for low-carbon sustainable growth.
Many industrialized economies have joined the Kyoto Protocol to cut greenhouse
gas emissions and set industrial standards limiting trade in environmentally
harmful products. South Korea is not a member of the Kyoto pact, but is expected
to agree to some greenhouse gas reductions in the coming years, as well as take
steps to meet newly established environmental rules for its products.
The former head of Pohang University of Science and Technology said that at
present, the country's prowess in this sector stands at 50-70 percent of
industrialized economies like the United States and Japan, with its global market
share standing at just 1.4 percent.
"Of the 15 countries that want to build up this field, the competitiveness of
South Korea ranks 11th, with just US$600 million invested in related research and
development in 2007," the official said.
He said that to overcome this, the incumbent administration plans to inject more
resources into improving competitiveness so that by 2012, South Korea's technical
capabilities will reach at least 80 percent of leaders, with its global market
share for related products reaching 7 percent. This, he claimed, could help
create 160,000 new jobs by the target year.
"By 2020, the aim is to push technology levels up to 90 percent of
front-runners," he said.
Park also said that the green technology growth plan being pursued by Seoul is
vital for overcoming existing barriers to growth in the information, bio and
nanotechnology sectors.
"By merging these businesses with green technology, new opportunities can be
created," he said.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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