On 24 February 2004, Deputy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica and her counterpart, Vice Minister Im Sang-Gyu, signed an Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of Science and Technology.

According to the Agreement, both countries will cooperate in various areas including:

	The exchange of information, materials as well as manpower
	The organisation of joint seminars on areas of common interest
	Identifying areas of mutual concern
	Conducting common research issues
	Applying research results
	Exchange of experience and know-how

From 5 to 9 September 2004 then Deputy Minister Sang Gyu Im visited South Africa. During this visited it was decided to establish a Joint Committee on Science and Technology in an effort to further structure bilateral relations.

On 21 June 2005 the First South Africa - South Korea Joint Committee on Science and Technology Co-operation was held in Seoul.  Mr Derek Hanekom, Deputy Minister of the Department of Science and Technology, chaired the South African delegation while Dr Choi Seok-Sik, Vice Minister of Science and Technology, led the Korean side. At the conclusion of the meeting they signed a Record of Discussion(ROD).

During the Joint Committee both sides agreed to establish a Networking Programme to deepen interaction between South African and Korean scientists. Both sides agreed to provide funds to the amount of US$ 100,000 annually and to provide feedback on progress to the next Joint Committee on Science and Technology to be held in South Africa in 2007. Initially most of the funds will be available for projects focusing on:

	Nano-technology
	Bio-technology
	Space science & astronomical research

Hydrogen economy & fuel cells as well as nuclear science would be additional priority areas.

Another important result of this visit was the signing of a MOU between the South African national Research Foundation (NRF) and KOSEF committing funds to implement the Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of Science and Technology.

South Africa is eager to utilize the KIST scholarships for three post-graduate students as from September 2006.

Deputy Minister Hanekom also urged KIST and the CSIR to strengthen their relations as envisaged in the MOU signed on 28 August 1998.