At the KAIST graduation ceremony held on the afternoon of the 20th, President Yoon received a warm welcome as students greeted him with high fives, contrasting with a controversial incident from two years prior involving the Presidential Security Service. During his address, President Yoon emphasized the importance of the dreams of scientists in determining a country's growth potential and assured students that the government would be a strong partner, promising not to let a lack of funding impede their research.

He acknowledged the previous cuts to research and development budgets but did not directly mention the past incident that caused outrage among KAIST students. Instead, he spoke about efforts to restore the research ecosystem that was disrupted by budget cuts. He proudly stated that a significant increase in basic research funding by over 17% was a hallmark of his administration's achievements, aiming to create an environment where young researchers can freely dedicate themselves to their studies.

This year's graduation ceremony, attended by many students and alumni, marked a notable shift in tone from the past. The students responded enthusiastically to President Yoon's speech, with applause interspersed throughout. His proactive stance on educational funding and commitment to fostering future scientific endeavors at KAIST reflects a broader aim to strengthen the country's research initiatives amidst previous tensions and controversies.