Applicants for the military service alternative program for science and engineering researchers, the "doctoral course professional research personnel," have fallen to about half in the past four years. Analysts say it is because a one-year mandatory service at small and midsize enterprises was introduced. Critics say alternatives are needed to prevent breaks in research careers.
◇ 1,130 applicants for professional research personnel last year… down 44% in four years
According to data submitted by Reform Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee of the National Assembly, to the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 30th, the number of applicants for doctoral course professional research personnel for 2025 stood at 1,130. That is a 44% drop in four years from ▲2,025 in 2021 ▲1,823 in 2022 ▲1,495 in 2023 ▲1,329 in 2024.
Professional research personnel is a system that allows science and engineering researchers to substitute military service by conducting research and development (R&D) activities at research institutes. Since its launch in 1973, it has recorded high competition rates.
But its popularity waned after the "2+1 system" took effect in 2023. Under this system, two years in a doctoral program and one subsequent year at corporations or research institutes are recognized as military service. In the past, the full three years of doctoral research were recognized as service, but the 2+1 system requires one year of mandatory service at small and midsize enterprises. The intent was to alleviate the research manpower shortage at small and midsize enterprises.
The problem is that science and engineering researchers view the one-year mandatory service at small and midsize enterprises as a "shackle," leading more to forgo applying for professional research personnel and choose active-duty service instead. Looking at how the program is run at the four institutes of science and technology, even in 2021, applications (1,219) exceeded the quota (400). But since the system overhaul in 2024, except for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, and Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology have the same number of applicants as those selected.
An official at one institute said, "Applicants for professional research personnel are students who have not resolved their military duty before entering a doctoral program, but recently, as the program has lost its appeal, many complete active-duty service before starting the doctoral program." The official added, "Under the 2+1 system, you must finish the doctoral program within two years, and on top of that, there is the burden of one year at a small and midsize enterprise after earning the degree, so the sentiment is that it is better to just serve 18 months of active duty."
Another institute official said, "Many young researchers complete active-duty service and then go abroad altogether," adding, "The manpower shortage at small and midsize enterprises should be addressed through other programs, while the professional research personnel system should operate as originally intended."
◇ One-year mandatory service at small and midsize enterprises acts as a "shackle"… "Better to enlist for active duty"
Accordingly, voices in the science and technology community say the "2+1 system" should be revised to prevent breaks in research careers for science and engineering researchers, its original intent. A bill to amend the Military Service Act for this is pending in the National Assembly. A revision proposed in 2024 by People Power Party lawmaker Go Dong-jin would require designating research institutes at large companies in national strategic industries such as semiconductors and secondary batteries as military service-designated workplaces. Several similar bills are before the National Assembly.
Also, at the bill subcommittee of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee in Feb., the Ministry of Science and ICT, the lead agency, asked lawmakers to resolve the issue. At the time, Park In-gyu, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Center, said, "More people in their 20s are choosing 18 months of active duty rather than working at small and midsize enterprises," adding, "Since 2024, professional research personnel are no longer seen as a special privilege but as a 'yoke,' leading to reluctance to apply."