SEOUL — In a swift move to address pressing national issues through advanced technology, South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced the selection of three critical research and development (R&D) projects under its newly introduced "Inter-Ministerial Rapid Response R&D" initiative for its second round of funding.

Launched this year, the program bridges a critical gap in traditional government R&D funding, which typically relies on pre-planned budgets finalized a year in advance. This new framework allows the government to immediately inject financial support into urgent research initiatives as emergencies arise.

The newly selected projects span public safety, digital security, and environmental restoration, spearheaded by respective government bodies:

-Combating Rogue Websites (Ministry of Gender Equality and Family): To counter illegal online platforms that continuously alter their web addresses to evade law enforcement, researchers will develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven detection and analysis system capable of tracking and identifying these elusive sites in real time.
-Preventing Defective Wildfire Restoration (Korea Forest Service): Addressing recurring issues of illegal or substandard construction in post-wildfire recovery zones, the forestry agency is introducing a mobile inspection technology powered by drones and AI to ensure rigorous oversight and quality control.
-Enhancing Firefighter Safety (National Fire Agency): To help rescue workers navigate complex structures during major structural fires, a digital twin-based 3D indoor modeling technology will be developed. This system will provide first responders with rapid access to internal layouts and the exact locations of fire suppression facilities.

"Securing the right technology precisely when and where it is needed on the ground is vital for resolving urgent national challenges," said Park In-gyu, Head of Science and Technology Innovation at MSIT. "Through close cooperation with relevant ministries, we will continue to provide prompt support for emergency R&D and ensure that these innovations are actively utilized in the field to deliver tangible improvements to people's daily lives."

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