[Reading Science] Is "Attending Overseas Conferences with Family" a Custom? ... Fact Check Results

Minister of Science and ICT nominee Lim Hye-sook is adjusting her glasses while attending the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "I admit it was inconsiderate. But it is a common practice in overseas academia."

This was said by Im Hye-sook, the nominee for Minister of Science and ICT, during her confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on the 4th, explaining the controversy over her family accompanying her on an overseas business trip. But is it really true? We conducted a 'fact check' with professors currently working at overseas universities and scholars with study abroad experience.

A professor at a national university who worked for over 10 years at a prestigious university in the eastern United States responded to the question "Is it true?" by saying, "It is quite a common practice in overseas academia." International academic conferences usually hold a week-long event around the end of a semester to share members' research achievements and promote mutual exchange, and it is quite common to bring a spouse or companion. Especially, attending the final evening banquet with a spouse is customary, where colleagues or family members such as a wife usually accompany. Of course, meal expenses and other costs must be paid separately. Sometimes, the conference organizers also run tours or separate programs for accompanying family members.

However, in Korea, regulations on research ethics have become stricter over the past few years, and family accompaniment is practically prohibited in many cases. Even if a professor attending a conference, like nominee Im Hye-sook, pays for the family’s airfare, meal expenses, and other costs out of pocket, accommodation costs can still be problematic. When family members accompany, the hotel charges extra for their stay, and if the difference is not borne personally but paid with public funds, it becomes a 'moral hazard.' Even if there is no additional accommodation fee, family members effectively become 'free riders,' which is equally problematic. The professor said, "At the university where I currently work, family accompaniment on business trips has been strictly prohibited for several years due to moral issues," adding, "While it is common in overseas academia to attend conferences with family, overseas universities also prevent public funds from being used for family expenses."

A professor at a university in New York, USA, had a similar response. Regarding family accompaniment, he explained that it is a common practice in overseas academia and "a matter of personal choice." He said, "I always travel alone, considering it an extension of work, but many people come with their spouse if they have the money and the spouse does not have a job," adding, "In well-funded fields like medicine, some conferences even cover the airfare and accommodation costs for spouses to encourage attendance." He mentioned that many attend conferences in cities with their families, where the professor attends the conference while the family enjoys sightseeing and travel.

However, he added, "It is not very common to bring family rather than fellow researchers because family members tend to get bored, which makes it difficult for the professor to focus on the conference," and said, "Paying extra for the final day banquet to bring family or colleagues is a personal choice."

A domestic professor in the science and engineering field expressed even greater concern. He said, "If bringing family at one’s own expense to overseas conferences is also criticized, it will be practically impossible for science and engineering professors to be appointed to high-level political positions in the future," and argued, "Although the standards have become stricter recently and people tend to refrain, if every detail is scrutinized, there will probably be no science and engineering professor who is exempt."

Meanwhile, nominee Im was most heavily questioned about the overseas conference family accompaniment controversy during the hearing on the 4th. Issues such as plagiarism of a student’s thesis and unqualified appointment as chairman of the National Science and Technology Research Council (NST) were also major points. As the hearing ended with a prevailing atmosphere that "the suspicions have not been sufficiently resolved," the possibility of Im’s appointment remains uncertain. It is reported that even within the ruling party, as well as opposition parties like the People Power Party and the Justice Party, opinions such as "It will be difficult" are emerging.

However, two days after the hearing, on the 6th, official organizations of science and engineering scholars collectively supported nominee Im by stating, "The plagiarism allegations are not true," creating a turning point. The Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies, the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, and the Korean Council of Science Journal Editors issued a statement saying, "Verification of the candidate should be based on expertise in science and technology policy and understanding of the research field, and we regret that the evaluation was not focused on job performance ability and expertise," thus pointing out these issues.