Core Viewpoint - The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) is fully supporting the development of polymer-based solid-state battery technology, which is expected to be used in small batteries, with an investment plan of approximately 180 billion KRW (about 130 million USD) by 2028 [2][3] Group 1 - MOTIE has selected key research institutions, including AMOGREENTECH, Chungnam National University, and the Korea Photonics Technology Institute, to lead the project aimed at developing solid-state batteries for compact IT and wearable devices [3] - The project will run from 2024 to 2028, with a total investment of 35.8 billion KRW (government funding of 25 billion KRW and private sector contributions of 10.8 billion KRW) [3] - Polymer-based solid-state batteries must meet strict requirements for lightweight design, high energy density, and enhanced safety to be used in wearable devices such as smartwatches, VR headsets, wireless earbuds, and smart rings [3] Group 2 - MOTIE anticipates that the successful development of this technology will accelerate the widespread adoption of wearable devices that are safer, lighter, and more convenient, with reduced need for frequent charging or fire hazards [3] - This initiative follows government-supported projects for the development of oxide and sulfide-based solid-state batteries, particularly focusing on oxide-based solid-state batteries for integration into printed circuit boards (PCBs) as low-power, highly safe auxiliary power sources for electronic devices [3]