With engineering and science talent escaping to overseas to avoid poor research conditions, the outflow of talent is increasing. The government plans to announce measures by the end of this month to prevent overseas outflow and attract excellent researchers back.
Vice Minister Ku Hyuk-chae of the Ministry of Science and ICT noted during the second meeting of the 'Task Force for Preventing Outflow and Attracting Science and Technology Talent' held in Seoul on the 3rd, "We have deeply reviewed what needs to be changed in research environments and compensation systems with the awareness that this is the last golden time. We will prepare effective measures by the end of September, reflecting private suggestions and on-site opinions."
The task force is co-chaired by Vice Minister Ku and Kyung Kye-hyun, an advisor at Samsung Electronics, and includes about 20 private experts, including senior officials from nine government departments, members of the Future Talent Special Committee under the Science and Technology Advisory Council, human resources heads from corporations, international academic experts, and researchers returning from abroad.
In the context of fierce global competition in advanced scientific and technological fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and biotechnology, domestic engineering and science talent are struggling due to poor research environments and limited career paths. Some individuals are changing their career paths to other fields or leaving for overseas, resulting in a decrease in the influx of domestic talent and an exacerbation of the imbalance.
The first meeting held last month diagnosed the reality that excellent talents are leaving for other professions, including medical schools, or going abroad and not returning. It was noted that the issues are not limited to salary problems, but that a lack of appealing research environments, quality jobs, and social recognition in engineering and science disciplines are common concerns. There were also criticisms that a transition to an ecosystem where corporations, universities, and research institutes can secure talent themselves is necessary, rather than one-sided measures led by the government.
During the second meeting, a draft plan for preventing and attracting talent outflow, based on opinions from industry, academia, and research, was discussed.
Discussions are also continuing within the scientific community. The Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies and the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) recently held two meetings to gather opinions on 'establishing a full-cycle growth system for domestic engineering and science talent' and 'measures for returning and attracting excellent overseas talents to Korea.'