As the competition among global artificial intelligence (AI) corporations to secure talent intensifies, concerns have been raised that Korea is suffering a worsening brain drain.
According to data submitted by Rep. Lee Sang-hwi of the Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee to the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 12th, 316 students who received government science scholarships over the past five years switched their career paths to non-STEM fields such as medicine.
After receiving the scholarships, they either dropped out midway or found jobs in non-STEM fields after graduation, making them subject to scholarship clawbacks. By year, the number rose from 29 in 2020 to 73 in 2023, and 58 were included as clawback cases through Jul. this year.
The program to cultivate semiconductor specialists also appeared to be faltering. The contract departments established by the government since 2023 at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) to train semiconductor talent have seen annual increases in enrollment, but some universities recorded mid-course attrition rates exceeding 10%.
The outflow of AI talent overseas was also pronounced. According to Stanford University's "AI Index Report 2025," as of last year, Korea's net inflow and outflow of AI talent stood at a net outflow of 0.36 per 10,000 people, ranking 35th among 38 OECD countries. It has posted a negative figure for three consecutive years since 2022.
Rep. Lee said, "The reality that science talent fostered with national effort heads to medical schools or drops out is a harbinger of a brain 'exodus,'" adding, "We must stem the outflow of AI talent and overhaul a practical talent development system."
He added, "The government should not merely train to hit numeric targets, but establish field-linked support and incentive systems so that high-level talent can remain in the country."