While Koreas nanotech efforts may look impressive to the outside world, an editorial in the Korea Herald points out some of the problems caused by political infighting. So far, little difference between Korea and any other country. Where it gets a little more interesting is the speculation that the minister of science and technology will be given the additional title of deputy prime minister in late September or early October, which gives some indication of just how seriously Korea takes technology.
Finally the editorial points out that if the nation is to push for sustainable development, it needs to develop information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology and other core technologies – many of them independently of other countries. As the central bank recently pointed out, the pursuit of economic development by importing or copying foreign technologies has limits.