At the late 1970s, the changing international economy has been an opportunity for our society to realize the importance of technical development and technical revolution. The Jeon Do-hwan administration pursued a new science and technology policy, contrary to government-initiative of the former administration, for the development of high technology. That is, it was restructuring of a propulsive system of science and technology policy that enhanced the role and participation of industry and scientific circles in making and promoting of the national science and technology policy. As a result, the power of science and technology policy which had been concentrated on the government decentralized. And thus mutual feedback in various interest groups such as the press, industry, scientific and political circles, had been important.
Gene Engineering Promotion Act(at present, Biotechnology Support Act) which was established in 1983, is a good example which shows the advent of new science and technology policy. At the early 1980s, public interest in gene engineering was led by the press and scientific circles and thus government, industry and political circles began to discuss promotion of gene engineering. In addition, Lee Sang-Hee, the scientific politician, organized industry and scientific circles and ensured approval of the president Jeon Do-hwan. As the result, gene engineering wasn’t stayed as a policy proposal and Gene Engineering Promotion Act has been established as a special law.