In celebration of April's Science Month, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity will hold various online and offline science culture events across the country.
The theme of this Science Month event is "the spring breeze, feeling science." From April 11 to 13, a pop-up event titled "Bizarre Science, Bizarre Experiences" will be held at Nova Portal in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. As pop-up stores have gained popularity among younger generations, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity plan to use this to expand the reach of science culture.
The pop-up store will feature various experience booths. There will be an exhibition showcasing advancements in science and technology to commemorate the 80th anniversary of liberation, hands-on image creation experiences, and merchandise events. Collaboration with corporations will also provide visitors with various science-related products and sponsored items.
Jung Woo-sung, chairman of the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity, noted, "The pop-up store could become a new way to promote science culture," adding that the aim is to ensure more people can naturally experience science by expanding offline touchpoints in addition to online promotion.
From April 16 to 20, major science festivals, including the National Science Festival of Korea, the National Science and Technology Exhibition, and the Daejeon Science Festival, will be held together for the first time in Daejeon. The National Science Festival of Korea and the Daejeon Science Festival will focus on science and technology culture experiences, while the National Science and Technology Exhibition will showcase the latest research results from government-funded research institutes. This year's festival will be themed "the engine of science, igniting curiosity" and will include exhibitions of 12 key national strategic technologies, R&D results, science culture experience programs, and science lectures and performances.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity conducted demand surveys in collaboration with local governments to host the science and technology festival, leading to the selection of Daejeon as the venue after the city expressed its willingness to actively participate. The city government is planning more abundant programs by linking the science festival, which it usually holds in October, with Science Month. The festival is expected to be a venue where the science and technology exhibition showcasing R&D achievements, science experience activities for children, and a variety of food and entertainment for citizens come together.
Online, related content will be provided in celebration of April's Science Month. Starting from the first week of April, a special online page on the Science All portal will feature online science and technology content focused on issues related to artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technology. Information about nationwide science culture programs taking place throughout April will also be released.
Chairman Jung Woo-sung expressed hope that this Science Month will provide an opportunity to rediscover the value and appeal of science and that more people will develop interest and curiosity about science. Hong Soon-jung, director of the Future Talent Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "The science festival should not be operated solely as an exhibition but should evolve into a form that is accessible to many more people," adding, "Based on the experiences gained from this year's event, we will plan for a better science festival."