Evidence has emerged that the Chinese government tried to recruit more than 100 professors from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
According to internal documents submitted by KAIST to Rep. Choi Su-jin of the People Power Party, a member of the Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee, on the 24th, the Chinese government sent an email titled "Invitation program for global outstanding scientists of China" to 149 KAIST professors early last year.
The email said, "With support from the Chinese government, we invite outstanding overseas talent," and "We offer an annual salary of 2 million yuan (about 400 million won) and support for dwellings, children's tuition, and other benefits."
After receiving a report and conducting a full survey, the National Intelligence Service found many similar cases at government-funded research institutes nationwide in the science and technology sector. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) is said to view this as an extension of China's overseas talent recruitment program, the "Thousand Talents Plan."
Choi said, "KAIST's research security team steadily receives two to three similar emails each month, but if professors do not report them individually, there is no basis for sanctions, and there is no authority to conduct compulsory investigations, making structural responses difficult."