Will constitutional reform include renewed perspective on science?

President Lee Jae-myung, then-chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, and lawmakers inspect facilities at the Rare isotope Accelerator complex for ON-line experiments (RAON) under the Institute for Basic Science in Daejeon, November 2023. Joint Press Corps

Scientists and engineers are seizing the opportunity presented by President Lee Jae-myung's push for constitutional reform to reshape the nation's longstanding view of science and technology as mere tools for economic growth.

Article 127 of the Constitution, last revised in 1987, states that the government "shall strive to develop the national economy by developing science and technology." This perspective has remained unchanged since former President Park Chung-hee's military regime tied science to economic growth through the fifth constitutional amendment in 1962.

The Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, a nonprofit established in memory of late SK Group Chairman Chey Jong-hyon, said Sunday that prominent scholars also view Article 127 as outdated.

In a report the institute published to offer nonpartisan recommendations for sustainable science and technology policy, the authors warned against limiting the role of science and technology to economic development.

"If Korea amends the Constitution, it is worth specifying that science and technology are important in themselves, regardless of their contribution to economic growth," the report read. "With a renewed perspective, Korea will be able to establish a national vision for science and technology that transcends politics."

Engineers and Scientists for Change (ESC), a nonprofit group open to anyone interested in science and technology, also called for an amendment to Article 127 in 2017, when then-President Moon Jae-in pursued constitutional reform.

At the time, ESC argued that the article could be interpreted as a reason to deprioritize basic scientific research with uncertain economic returns.

The Moon administration accepted this criticism and proposed a new Article 134, which stated that the government should promote liberal arts and sciences to support the national economic development and enhance quality of life. The proposal also said the government should strive to innovate in science and technology.

However, the proposed amendment was blocked in 2018 by the then-conservative main opposition party.

During the presidency of impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol, Article 127 was cited in 2023 as a basis for arguing that his drastic cuts to the research and development (R&D) budget were unconstitutional. Nonetheless, efforts to revise the article stalled during the former administration, which lasted from May 2022 to June 2025.

Lee's newly launched administration has pledged to increase R&D funding and create an environment where scientists and engineers can focus on their work. Still, it remains unclear whether an amendment to Article 127 will be included in his broader constitutional reform plan, which primarily aims to introduce a four-year presidency with the possibility of one reelection.

Lee has also emphasized the economic importance of science and technology, framing his support for researchers as part of his growth agenda.

"To secure the nation's future growth engines by nurturing talent in science and technology, I will balance supply and demand in the R&D and industrial workforce," his full campaign pledge book stated.