The government said on the 7th it will create a "national scientist" designation to boost research and development (R&D) competitiveness. It aims to select about 20 world-class scientists each year, provide a stable research environment, and foster up to 100 over the next five years. The goal is to treat scientists as national strategic assets amid intensifying competition in advanced industries.
The national scientist program is expected to select top researchers in each field, provide research grants and a presidential certificate, and help them conduct research independently regardless of affiliation. The government plans to expand the scale beyond existing programs and set up a "next-generation track" for promising early-career researchers to identify talent early.
Legislation is also under review. Park In-gyu, Deputy Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said at a briefing that day, "It is more desirable to provide stable treatment for researchers, including young and mid-career, through a system rather than a program," and noted, "We are designing it so that researchers can take root over the long term regardless of whether they belong to a university or a government-funded research institute."
Although Korea has world-class competitiveness in semiconductors, batteries, and artificial intelligence (AI), it has been criticized for the low social standing of the scientists who made that possible. As a result, the top students in science and engineering continue to shift to other professions such as medicine, law, and business, a phenomenon dubbed "avoidance of science and engineering."
Authorities said that if the government officially certifies and confers stability and prestige, it can send the message that "scientists are a sufficiently respected profession."
China selects the nation's top scientists and guarantees lifetime research through its "Academician" system. The perks, such as dedicated cars and dwellings, are exceptional. In the United States, while not led by the government, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is effectively recognized as the highest authority. NAS members are elected by votes of fellow scientists and also serve as policy advisers.
Korea operated a "national scholar" system in 2005 to cultivate Nobel-level talent. The program aimed to nurture star researchers by providing 200 million won per year (100 million won for theoretical fields), up to 2 billion won. But it was eventually abolished as its symbolic value was diluted during the 2008 integration of the education and science and technology ministries and it shifted to a program-centric approach.
Deputy Minister Park said, "The exact number of people and the amount of support have not been finalized at this stage," adding, "In the early 2000s, the system selected a small number, about one or two people, but we plan to increase that significantly." Park added, "Once selected as a national scientist, the status would be retained continuously, and we are considering a system that provides ongoing support."