Applicants for the "doctoral course specialist research personnel," a program that substitutes military service for science and engineering researchers, have fallen to about half in the past four years. The drop is being attributed to the introduction of the one-year mandatory service at small and midsize companies. Critics say an alternative is needed to prevent breaks in research careers.
◇ 1,130 applicants for specialist research personnel last year… down 44% in four years
According to data submitted by Reform Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok of the Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee of the National Assembly from the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 30th, the number of applicants for doctoral course specialist research personnel in 2025 stood at 1,130. That is a 44% decrease in four years: ▲2,025 in 2021 ▲1,823 in 2022 ▲1,495 in 2023 ▲1,329 in 2024.
The specialist research personnel system allows science and engineering researchers to substitute military service by engaging in research and development (R&D) at research institutions. Since the system was introduced in 1973, it has seen high competition ratios.
However, popularity has waned since the "2+1 system" took effect in 2023. Under this system, two years of the doctoral program and one subsequent year at corporations or research institutes count toward 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 a small or midsize company or a research institute. The aim was to address the shortage of research personnel at small and midsize companies.
The problem is that science and engineering researchers view the one-year mandatory service at small and midsize companies as a "shackle," leading more to forgo the specialist research personnel track and choose active-duty service. Looking at how the system is run at the four institutes of science and technology, in 2021 the number of applicants (1,219) outnumbered the quota (400). But since the reform, starting in 2024, at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan Institute of Science and Technology, and Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology—excluding Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology—the number of applicants matches the number selected.
An official at one institute said, "Applicants for specialist research personnel are students who have not resolved their military issue before the doctoral course, but lately the system has lost its appeal, and many complete active-duty service before entering the doctoral program." The official added, "Under the 2+1 system, they must finish the doctoral course within two years, and on top of that bear a one-year small and midsize company service burden after earning the degree, so the mood is that it is better to just do 18 months of active-duty service."
Another institute official said, "Many young researchers complete active-duty service and then go abroad altogether," adding, "The manpower shortage at small and midsize companies should be addressed through other systems, and the specialist research personnel program should be run according to its original intent."
◇ One-year mandatory service at small and midsize companies acts as a "shackle"… "better to enlist as active duty"
Accordingly, voices in the science and technology community say the "2+1 system" should be revised to prevent interruptions in the research careers of science and engineering researchers, as originally intended. The National Assembly is also considering amendments to the Military Service Act for this. A bill introduced in 2024 by People Power Party lawmaker Ko Dong-jin would mandate designating research labs at large corporations in national strategic high-tech industries such as semiconductors and secondary batteries as military service institutions. Several similar bills are before the National Assembly.
In addition, at the subcommittee on bills of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee in February, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the lead agency, asked lawmakers to address 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 service rather than working at small and midsize companies," adding, "Since 2024, specialist research personnel are no longer seen as a special benefit but as a 'yoke,' leading to a reluctance to apply."