The government plans to spend over 24 trillion won next year on national research and development projects to foster state-of-the-art technologies related to digital innovation.  

The Ministry of Science and ICT on Tuesday announced a national R&D budget distribution and coordination plan for next year, projecting an increase of one-point-seven percent from this year to 24-point-66 trillion won.  

The government will inject some one trillion won per year to advance six digital innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence(AI), AI semiconductors, the metaverse and cybersecurity. 

Nearly 500 billion won, up eight-point-five percent from this year, will be earmarked for R&D programs involving next-generation system semiconductors and display technologies. 

The comparative budget for next-generation nuclear reactors, including small modular reactors, will also jump by more than 50 percent to nearly 30 billion won.