The Korea Science and Technology Media Center (SMCK), an independent media support organization that provides consolidation between the scientific community and the press, has officially launched. It plans to quickly provide evidence-based expert explanations on scientific issues such as infectious diseases, climate change, and artificial intelligence (AI) to curb the spread of fake news and improve the public's understanding of science.
The inaugural chair is Noh Jeong-hye, an emeritus professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Seoul National University, and the inaugural director is Lee Geun-young, a former science reporter at The Hankyoreh. At the opening ceremony held on the 23rd at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Chair Noh said, "We will provide the media with timely, evidence-based expert opinions to help ensure that scientific facts are delivered fairly and objectively."
The Korea Science and Technology Media Center is an independent, nonprofit foundation approved by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and it formed its board and began activities in Jul. last year. It is modeled after the Science Media Centre (SMC), established in the United Kingdom in 2002, which the Royal Society launched initially in response to the controversy over genetically modified organisms (GMO). It is currently operating in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Spain, and Taiwan, and Korea is preparing to join the global SMC network. In Asia, it is the third after Japan (partial operation) and Taiwan.
The center aims to provide practical help to three groups of experts: journalists, scientists, and public relations officers at research institutions. For journalists, it quickly and richly provides unbiased information necessary to interpret issues, making it easier to use science and technology in articles, and for scientists and researchers, it provides a space where their opinions and explanations can be delivered safely within full context. For research institution public relations officers, it offers opportunities to inform journalists of institutional achievements objectively and precisely, and, through the global SMC network, helps increase international influence.
At the opening ceremony, Vice Minister Gu Hyeok-chae of the Ministry of Science and ICT, Lee Eun-jung, president of the Korea Science Journalists Association, and Jeong Jin-ho, president of The Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST), among others from the science and media communities, attended. Founding Committee Chair Hong Seong-uk (Seoul National University professor) and Fiona Fox, head of the U.K. SMC, along with SMC officials from various countries, sent congratulatory messages by video.
Vice Minister Gu Hyeok-chae said, "Innovation in science and technology is becoming a shared task of humanity beyond borders," adding, "I hope the Korea Science and Technology Media Center will work with the global network to expand healthy scientific discourse."
Center Director Fiona Fox said, "As the spread of misinformation accelerates, it is important to respond quickly and ensure that the public can access trustworthy scientific information," adding, "The establishment of a Science Media Centre in Korea is very timely."