The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said Wednesday that it would seek to achieve a creative economy centered on the people and job creation in the latter half of this year.

“The ministry invested 60 percent of its entire budget of 12 trillion won ($10 billion), and will put the rest into job creation in the latter half,” Cho Kyung-shik, a senior director at the ministry, said at a press briefing.

The ministry explained that it would focus on installing incubator centers for start-up and venture businesses, especially in the ICT sector.

One of the centers currently under construction in Seoul, for example, will provide consulting services with the help of private consulting groups, and 15 specialists in business management will be dispatched to help fledgling companies in running their businesses.

In order to promote the software sector, the ministry will also create funds to give tailored services and financial aid to firms on different business phases.

The government said it would select projects to secure public safety and solve issues such as sex crimes and online game addiction, promising to create a cooperative system among industries, universities, and research institutes.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)