The Korean government announced plans Tuesday to streamline its underperforming programs in efforts to advance the local unmanned vehicle industry.

It will focus first on developing "common technologies" crucial to drones, driverless cars and unmanned vessels, according to the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.

The government has invested around 284 billion won ($241 million) in the related sector over the past four years.

"But it's evaluated to lag behind China and advanced nations in price and quality," the ministry said.

So far, Korea has pushed for the separate development of land, air and maritime unmanned vehicles, which takes more time and money, it noted.

The government has decided to shift to a strategy to develop "common and combined platform" technologies and will launch an interagency task force in May, added the ministry.

It will pour a total of 40 billion won into the new project over the next three years. (Yonhap)