The first development phase began in the 1970s when the
National Science Town was established at Daedeok, in
Daejeon. The master plan represented a concrete attempt by
central government to create a science city outside the capital
region. In particular, it was expected that DST could enhance
research efficiency through a systematic and comprehensive
R&D investment for each institute, creating an optimal
research environment for the mutual exchange and application
of a variety of information, knowledge and know-how,
and promoting investment effectiveness by the shared use of
facilities, manpower and projects. In order to achieve these
aims, the development of DST in the initial stages was centered
on public sector research institutes and nationally funded
universities (Oh and Masser 1995). The dominant role of
the government is particularly evident in the initial stages of
DST development, as DST was established by a central government
initiative; local authorities were excluded from the initial
planning of the science city program particularly that of DST.
Because of exclusion, there seems to be a weaker link
between the technopolis and regional industrial development,
than there otherwise might have been. In the 1980s, the function
of DST was to establish a R&D center for government
supported institutes and industries through the relocation policy
of central government. In the early 1990s, completing construction
of DST became a high priority. There was a change
in the expectations of the role of DST due to the changing
economic and social climate. In the original plan, DST was
envisaged to play a role as a center for pure scientific research
in Republic of Korea. However, recently applied research and
development that is directly applicable to commercialization
has become an expectation. Therefore, DST has been criticized
for being unable to adequately fulfil such needs.