ACT ON UTILIZATION AND FOSTERING OF NATIONAL SUPER-COMPUTERS

Article 1(Purpose) #

The purpose of this Act is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of people and the national economic growth by promoting sustainable utilization of national super-computers and by developing the infrastructure for the development and science and technology through the efficient establishment and systematic management of national super-computers.

Article 2(Definitions) #

The terms used in this Act are defined as follows: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Jul. 26, 2017; Oct. 19, 2017>

1. The term "super-computer" means a computer which can produce, process, utilize big data at ultra-high speed and meets the criteria set by the National Supercomputing Committee under Article 7 (1);

2. The term "supercomputing" means computing, communication, and information technologies, including the utilization of high-capacity and high-speed electronic computer networks by using super-computers or super-computer technologies, the establishment and application of experimental systems for special purposes, and the management of system software and big data;

3. The term "national supercomputing" means the development, establishment, operation, and utilization of supercomputing systems utilized for public and industrial purposes at a national level in the areas of science, technology, national defense, education, social affairs, culture, and the economies;

4. The term "resources for supercomputing" means resources specified by Decree of the Ministry of Science and ICT as those necessary for the fostering of national supercomputing," including supercomputing itself, facilities, technologies, and software (applications and system software) related to supercomputing, network infrastructure, human resources, and information;

5. The term "advanced research network" means a network related to supercomputing for advanced research.

Article 3(Responsibilities of the state) #

The State shall establish and implement comprehensive measures necessary for the fostering of national supercomputing.

Article 4(Relationship to other statutes) #

Except as otherwise provided in any other statute, the provisions of this Act shall apply to the fostering of national supercomputing.

Article 5(Establishment of master plans for fostering of national supercomputing) #

(1) The Minister of Science and ICT shall establish and implement a master plan for the fostering of national supercomputing (hereinafter referred to as "master plan") in order to foster national supercomputing. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Jul. 26, 2017>

(2) The Minister of Science and ICT shall prepare a master plan every five years through consultations with the heads of related central administrative agencies and determine such master plan following deliberations by the National Supercomputing Committee established under Article 7. The same shall also apply to any revision to such master plan. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Jul. 26, 2017>

(3) The master plan shall include the following:

1. Basic direction-setting and objectives of policies for fostering national supercomputing;

2. Matters regarding securing, distributing, and sharing resources for national supercomputing;

3. Matters regarding investment and procurement of necessary financial resources;

4. Matters regarding research and development of national supercomputing;

5. Matters regarding developing and utilizing human resources for national supercomputing;

6. Matters regarding promoting international cooperation in national supercomputing;

7. Matters regarding the joint utilization of resources for national supercomputing in national research and development programs;

8. Other matters necessary for the fostering of national supercomputing.

(4) When the master plan is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the Minister of Science and ICT shall make public notification thereof without delay and shall notify the heads of related central administrative agencies thereof. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Jul. 26, 2017>

(5) Matters necessary for establishing and implementing master plans shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 6(Establishment of implementation plans) #

(1) The head of each related central administrative agency shall establish and implement an implementation plan for national supercomputing (hereinafter referred to as "implementation plan") for each year in accordance with the master plan.

(2) The head of each related central administrative agency shall submit an implementation plan for each year under paragraph (1) and an annual report on the performance of implementation for the implementation plan for the previous year, as prescribed by Presidential Decree, and the Minister of Science and ICT shall evaluate the performance of implementation of an implementation plan for each year. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Jul. 26, 2017>

(3) Necessary matters concerning the formulation and execution of implementation plans or the evaluation of the outcomes of promoting implementation plans shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 7(National Supercomputing Committee) #

(1) There shall be established a National Supercomputing Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Science and ICT to deliberate on matters regarding fostering national supercomputing. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Jul. 26, 2017>

(2) The Committee shall deliberate on the following: <Amended on Dec. 19, 2017>

1. Coordination in the establishment of, and the revision to, a master plan and the establishment and execution of important policies thereunder;

2. Matters regarding policies for fostering national supercomputing;

3. Matters regarding ways to increase budget for national supercomputing;

3-2. Matters regarding the standards for national supercomputing;

4. Matters regarding introducing and distributing resources for national supercomputing;

5. Matters regarding joint utilization of resources for national supercomputing;

6. Formulation of a master plan for developing and exchanging human resources in the field of national supercomputing, important policies and guidelines for utilizing human resources thereunder, and coordination in the execution thereof;

7. Matters regarding maintaining, repairing and utilizing an advanced research network;

8. Formulation of plans for using and preserving the results of research and development of national supercomputing and coordination in the execution thereof;

9. Other matters that the Committee chairperson considers necessary for the research and development of national supercomputing.

(3) The Commission shall be comprised of not exceeding 20 members, including one chairperson.

(4) The Minister of Science and ICT shall serve as the Committee chairperson; and members shall be appointed or commissioned by the Committee chairperson from among any of the following persons: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Jul. 26, 2017; Jan. 11, 2022>

1. Vice Ministers or equivalent public officials of related ministries specified by Presidential Decree or public officials in general service in the Senior Executive Service;

2. A person recommended by an organization related to science and technology prescribed by Presidential Decree, who has expertise in supercomputing;

Article 7-2(Legal fiction as public officials for purposes of applying penalty provisions) #

A non-public official member of the Committee shall be deemed to be a public official for purposes of applying Articles 127 and 129 through 132 of the Criminal Act.

[This Article Added on Jan. 23, 2024]

Article 8(Measures for fostering of national supercomputing) #

(1) The head of each related central administrative agency shall formulate measures for the efficient fostering of national supercomputing as follows: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017; Dec. 19, 2017; Jun. 9, 2020; Oct. 1, 2025>

1. The Minister of Science and ICT: Policies to support research and development in the fields of application of national supercomputing, to support and coordinate the formulation of master plans and implementation plans, to support research and development of basic and advanced technologies related to supercomputing, to support the fostering and development of institutions in charge of supporting national supercomputing, to promote the active utilization of supercomputing in the fields of information technology and telecommunications and the commercialization of technologies developed therefrom, to support research and development for the utilization and preservation of useful research findings, to support research and development on high-performance computing and high-performance and high-capacity telecommunications networks and the proliferation thereof, and to support research and development related to big data processing;

2. The Minister of Education: Policies to cultivate professional manpower in the field of supercomputing and to support research activities in the basic field of national supercomputing, which have undergone consultations with the Minister of Science and ICT;

3. The Minister of National Defense: Policies to support research and development for the utilization of supercomputing in the fields related to national defense, and cultivation of professional manpower therefor;

4. The Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources: Policies to ensure the active utilization of supercomputing in industrial fields, to promote the commercialization of technologies developed therefrom, and to cultivate and support professional manpower for supercomputing in industrial fields;

5. The Minister of Health and Welfare: Policies to support research and development for the utilization of supercomputing in the fields of biotechnology, public health and medical services, and social welfare, and to support cultivation of professional manpower therefor;

6. The Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment: Policies to support research and development for the utilization of supercomputing in the fields of ecosystems, atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric dynamics, and other environment-related fields, and to support cultivation of professional manpower therefor;

Article 9(National supercomputing center) #

(1) The Government may establish or designate a national supercomputing center, as prescribed by Presidential Decree, in order to facilitate the fostering and utilization of national supercomputing.

(3) Deleted. <Feb. 23, 2013>

(3) A national supercomputing center shall conduct the following business activities: <Amended on Dec. 19, 2017>

1. Support for coordination in the establishment of, and the revision to, a master plan and the establishment and execution of important policies thereunder subject to deliberation by the Committee under Article 7 (2) 1;

2. Support for formulation of a master plan for developing and exchanging human resources in the field of national supercomputing, important policies and guidelines for utilizing human resources thereunder, and coordination in the execution thereof subject to deliberation by the Committee under Article 7 (2) 6;

3. Forecast for supply of and demand for human resources in the field of supercomputing under Article 12 (2);

4. Estimation of demand for resources required nationwide for supercomputing;

5. Securing and operation of world-class resources for supercomputing;

6. Research and development of national supercomputing through cooperation between industries, universities, and research institutes;

7. Assistance in technologies to interconnect resources for supercomputing and management of joint utilization of resources for supercomputing;

8. Management and operation of an advanced research network;

9. Basic and applied research on supercomputing and diffusion of achievements of such research;

10. Training and education of professional human resources for supercomputing and technical assistance in such training and education;

11. Collection and diffusion of technical information on supercomputing;

12. International cooperation in supercomputing;

13. Research on policies, including surveys on domestic and international trends in supercomputing and schemes for promoting supercomputing;

14. Other work related to supercomputing.

(4) A national supercomputing center shall submit a report on the performance in the activities specified in paragraph (3) to the Minister of Science and ICT, as prescribed by Presidential Decree; and the Minister of Science and ICT shall review such report. <Amended on Dec. 19, 2017>

Article 9-2(Specialized center) #

(1) The Minister of Science and ICT may designate and operate a supercomputing center for each field (hereinafter referred to as "specialized center") as prescribed by Presidential Decree; provided, he or she may entrust the head of a relevant administrative agency with the designation thereof.

(2) A specialized center shall play the following roles and responsibilities:

1. Building and operating resources for supercomputing by field and providing services;

2. Conducting basic and applied research on supercomputing by field and sharing the findings of such research;

3. Assisting in the management and operation of big data related to supercomputing;

4. Nurturing human resources, developing technologies and other activities to promote supercomputing.

(3) The Minister of Science and ICT shall determine the guidelines for operating specialized centers after having consultation with the heads of relevant administrative agencies.

(4) The Government may fully or partially subsidize the operation of the specialized centers designated under paragraph (1).

[This Article Added on Dec. 19, 2017]

Article 10(Expansion of investments in research and development) #

(1) The Government shall endeavor to secure financial resources necessary for expanding investment in research and development of national supercomputing. <Amended on Dec. 19, 2017>

(2) The Government may promote a national research and development project for national supercomputing to efficiently execute a master plan and implementation plan. <Added on Dec. 19, 2017>

Article 11(Introduction of resources for national supercomputing) #

(1) The Government shall endeavor to secure resources for supercomputing at the level of advanced countries to meet changes in the demand for resources for national supercomputing and to keep up with the speed of the development of technology. <Amended on Dec. 19, 2017>

(2) Matters necessary for securing resources for national supercomputing under paragraph (1) shall be determined by Presidential Decree. <Added on Dec. 19, 2017>

[Title of This Article Amended on Dec. 19, 2017]

Article 12(Training of professionals) #

(1) The Government shall establish a plan for the training of human resources for supercomputing in order to develop human resources necessary for the fostering of national supercomputing and shall take measures for the establishment of educational and training programs for training human resources, the overseas training of professional human resources, and the invitation and utilization of outstanding foreign human resources.

(2) The Minister of Science and ICT shall make forecasts on the supply and demand of human resources for the area of supercomputing through consultations with the heads of related central administrative agencies and shall reflect the outcomes thereof in the measures and plans for the training of human resources for supercomputing under paragraph (1). <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Jul. 26, 2017>

(3) The Government may entrust work for the training of human resources for supercomputing under paragraph (1) to institutions, organizations, and universities related to supercomputing, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.

(4) The Government may fully or partially subsidize institutions, organizations, and universities that train human resources for supercomputing pursuant to paragraph (3) for expenses necessary for training.

Article 13(Establishment, maintenance, utilization, and improvement of advanced research networks) #

The Government shall endeavor to establish, maintain, utilize, and improve advanced research networks for national supercomputing.

Article 14(Collection and diffusion of technical information) #

The Government shall endeavor to collect and manage data and information about national supercomputing and diffuse such information to related agencies and institutions.

Article 15(Survey on activities for research and development of supercomputing) #

(1) The Minister of Science and ICT shall investigate and analyze activities for research and development of supercomputing by the private sector, as prescribed by Presidential Decree, in order to establish a master plan and implementation plan. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Jul. 26, 2017; Dec. 19, 2017>

(2) Where necessary to make investigation and analysis under paragraph (1), the Minister of Science and ICT may request enterprises, legal entities, and organizations that participate in national research and development projects to submit data. In such cases, the enterprises, legal entities, and organizations requested to submit data shall comply with such request, except for extenuating circumstance. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Jul. 26, 2017>

Article 16(Promotion of joint research and development) #

The Government shall promote joint research and development between universities, research institutes, and industries in order to efficiently foster research on national supercomputing and development of technologies therefor.

Article 17(Shared utilization of resources for supercomputing) #

(1) The Government shall establish a system for interconnecting domestic resources for supercomputing and utilizing such resources in common at a national level (hereinafter referred to as "system for shared utilization").

(2) The Government may fully or partially subsidize enterprises, institutions, organizations, and universities that participate in the establishment and operation of the system for shared utilization pursuant to paragraph (1) for expenses incurred therein.

(3) Matters necessary for the establishment and operation of the system for shared utilization shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 18(Assistance to industrial establishments) #

(1) The Government may provide necessary assistance to industrial establishments to promote the industrialization of activities for research and development of national supercomputing by industrial establishments and the industrialization of outcomes of research and development.

(2) The Government shall provide preferential assistance under paragraph (1) to technology-intensive small and medium enterprises related to supercomputing and enterprises that begin new business with new technology.

(3) Matters necessary for assistance in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be determined by Presidential Decree. <Added on Dec. 19, 2017>

Article 19(International cooperation) #

The Government shall endeavor to enhance international cooperation in research and technologies for national supercomputing and shall seek to implement schemes efficient for the introduction of advanced technologies.

Article 20(Practical use of outcomes of research and development) #

(1) The Government shall establish and implement supportive measures necessary for the promotion of practical use of outcomes of research and development related to national supercomputing.

(2) Matters necessary for details of the supportive measures under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 21(Promotion of utilization of national supercomputing) #

The Government shall promote the utilization of national supercomputing in the areas of science and technology and in the governmental sector and the industrial sector.