President Yoon visits Agency for Defense Development

President Yoon visited the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) located in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon on December 29 and inspected the overall status of development of domestic weapons systems, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and interception systems of the South Korean military against the recent North Korean drone threat. ADD is a national research institute responsible for technical investigation, research, development and testing of weapons and defense science and technology necessary for national defense, and employs a total of 3,500 people. Yoon declared the ROK military’s determination to respond decisively to North Korea’s provocations and emphasized that only certain punishment and retaliation can deter North Korean provocations. He urged military commanders to have a firm mental readiness and to devote themselves to practical training. 

Yoon and First Lady talk with future scientists

Yoon and First Lady Kim Kun-hee met the 2022 Presidential Science Scholarship students and the International Science Olympiad winners at the Blue House on December 22 to congratulate them. They congratulated the students by presenting scholarship certificates and medals, and commemorative plaques and prizes to the winners of the International Science Olympiad. In his speech of encouragement, Yoon said that the free and convenient life we now enjoy is because there were senior scientists who did not give up and constantly pursued their own path despite numerous trials and errors and failures. He emphasized the importance of autonomy in research, fairness in evaluation, and a fair reward system, and the government would be a strong supporter for future scientists. Students freely asked questions about their dreams, aspirations, worries, and interests to Yoon and First Lady. A total of 230 students and officials attended on the day.