The Basic Science Research Promotion Act, enacted in 1989, is evaluated as the first legal device used to support basic science research in Korea. Before the law was enacted, basic scientists and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) had to go through a period of mediation over the definitions of basic science and the targets of support. This paper seeks to reveal the meaning and dynamics contained by this law by tracing the demands of the basic scientists and the developments of related policies, and analyzing the actual process of enacting the bill. I would like to make the following arguments: First, the 1987 democratization movement was behind MOST’s change of its policy to establish the Basic Science Research Institute to build a basic science support research center. Second, the enactment of the Basic Science Research Promotion Act is a result of more reflection on the MOST’s plan, which expanded the scope of basic research and emphasized its connection with industrial developments. Third, the rhetoric of basic scientists who set the ultimate goal of basic science as industrial technology development forced themselves to follow MOST’s intentions in the legislation process.