The attendance of a researcher-turned-lawmaker at a conference of physicists sparked interest as the lawmaker was set to present on the government's science and technology policy; however, disappointment arose when it was revealed that they would not attend. The lawmaker noted that their schedule clashed with discussions on the national budget, but some expressed disappointment, stating it was a rare opportunity to reflect the voices of the research community in policy making.
On the 24th, a special session titled 'The future of science and technology policy and physics' was held at the Spring Conference of the Korean Physical Society at the Daejeon Convention Center. It was a forum to review the direction of the government's science and technology policy amid rapidly changing conditions, including shifts in research funding and reductions in research personnel, and to explore strategies for responding from the research community.
Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Hwang Jung-ah, who is a member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee (STIB) and a former representative of the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, was scheduled to attend the session. As the country approached the presidential election, expectations grew that meaningful discussions would reflect the voices of the research community during the budget formulation process, along with the direction of science and technology policy for the next government.
However, session chair Yoo In-gwon, a professor at Busan National University, announced the absence of lawmaker Hwang at the start of the session. It was reported that her attendance was complicated due to a schedule conflict with the National Assembly's STIB's supplementary budget review taking place on the same day. Prior to this, lawmaker Hwang had informed that she would present on 'The future of science and technology policy and physics,' aiming to 'review the government's policy direction in the rapidly changing science and technology environment and explore response strategies from the physics community.'
Instead, Director Song Wan-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT presented on the direction of basic research policy for this year. The key focus was on 'qualitative enhancement of basic research,' viewing 2026 as a turning point for policy transition, with plans to push for amendments to the Basic Research Promotion Act, the introduction of support systems by academic field, and the restructuring of research support based on the life cycle. However, specific timelines for implementation, as well as budget size, were not disclosed during the presentation.
The Ministry of Science and ICT serves as the policy execution agency under the executive branch and is tasked with establishing and executing detailed plans within a defined framework rather than fundamentally altering policies or budgets. Accordingly, the focus of the session shifted from institutional improvement to introducing government policy directions and gathering opinions.
In the subsequent panel discussion, Director Song, Inha University Professor and President of the Korean Physical Society Yun Jin-hee, and Head Researcher Lee Ju-han of the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI) participated. While the panelists expressed agreement with the basic intent of the policies, they maintained a cautious stance regarding their effectiveness.
During the question-and-answer session, demands for fundamental improvements to the policy structure were raised. Key issues included polarization of research funding, instability in project selection rates, lack of basic research funding for new faculty, and the instability of the support system. One researcher pointed out, "If the basic structure does not change, the same problems will recur," however, the discussion focused more on operational improvements rather than institutional transformation.
After the session, a member of the conference remarked, "It would have been nice if Hwang had attended, but today's discussions were meaningful," adding, "While researchers' voices should be more reflected in policy decisions, the structure for incorporating field opinions into actual policy remains uncertain."