By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak praised the late President Kim Dae-jung's efforts while in office to lay the groundwork for the country's science technology development.
In a meeting of a presidential panel on science and technology at Cheong Wa Dae, Wednesday, Lee again expressed his condolences over the death of the former head of state, who died Tuesday at the age of 85.
``The inaugural Science and Technology Committee meeting was presided over by the late President Kim,'' Lee said. ``That effort has continued till now, and I want to remind all of you of Kim's enormous contribution to the country's science and technology development.''
Lee apparently referred to Kim's initiatives to upgrade the nation's information and technology sector during his administration, such as an effort to develop an electronic government.
``South Korea's global status is dependent on our science and technology level,'' the President said, pledging that his government will increase and more effectively manage expenditure for research and development.
Later in the day, South Korea's first space launch vehicle carrying a scientific satellite payload blasted off from the Naro Space Center, about 480 kilometers southwest of Seoul.