"Which Child These Days Says They Want to Be a Scientist? Maybe a Doctor, But..." [Reading Science]

Ultra-Low Birthrate and Super-Aging Society, Critical Shortage of STEM Talent
Poor Working Conditions and Job Scarcity Lead to Increasing Neglect
Children's Future Hope Job Rankings Decline Year by Year

On the 4th, children are viewing the 100th Children's Day special exhibition "Everyone is a Child" at the National Museum of Korea Children's Museum in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. This exhibition, offering 10 types of themed experiential activities, operates through first-come, first-served online reservations. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "In the 70s and 80s, scientists were always ranked within the top 3 in children's future career preferences. But nowadays, which child says they want to become a scientist? Celebrities, athletes, and creators are the top choices. At best, they aim to become doctors who earn good money."

This is the comment of an elementary school teacher regarding children's recent job preferences. In the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, the importance of science and technology is greater than ever, but in South Korea, concerns are rising about a shortage of STEM talents due to population decline caused by low birth rates and aging, as well as insufficient treatment and job opportunities. Children's math and science skills are also declining, highlighting the need for drastic measures to nurture STEM talents.

According to the science and technology sector on the 5th, the number of STEM university entrants has steadily decreased as the student population declines due to low birth rates and aging. The number dropped about 4.2%, from approximately 283,000 in 2011 to 271,000 in 2020. This means that the quantity and quality of children dreaming of becoming 'scientists and engineers' have decreased accordingly. The science and technology sector attributes this primarily to a lack of quality jobs. According to the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Human Resources Development, as of 2021, the number of researchers in South Korea's science and technology fields is about 540,000, with 387,448 in companies, 110,619 in universities, and 40,069 in public research institutes. A science and technology official said, "This number is absolutely insufficient compared to other advanced countries, and even this is increasingly being lost overseas to countries like the U.S. and China," adding, "Special measures are needed to address the decline of talents in the science and technology sector, which is the core of the nation's future growth engine."

The phenomenon of STEM graduates failing to find quality jobs also persists. About 7,000 STEM PhD holders graduate annually, and they hope for stable research positions at universities or government-funded research institutes. However, the number of new university faculty hires is very limited each year, and the recruitment of researchers at government-funded institutes is only about 100 to 200 annually.

Poor treatment is also a problem. A 2019 survey by the National Science and Technology Advisory Council targeting STEM graduate students nationwide found that 61% of respondents said their stipend was insufficient to cover living expenses. Only 8% said it was sufficient, and 30% said it was somewhat sufficient. On the other hand, many complained about financial hardship due to low stipends: 32% said it was insufficient, 26% very insufficient, and 3% said they had none at all. STEM graduate students also complained about not being able to take proper vacations. When asked how many official vacation days they were guaranteed in the lab, only 8% answered 15 days or more, which is the legal standard. The remaining 92% either had no vacation at all (29%) or were guaranteed fewer than the standard (1?14 days, 63%).

South Korean elementary and middle school students' math and science skills, once among the world's best, are also declining. According to the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) results released by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement in 2020, South Korean 8th graders ranked 3rd in math and 4th in science in 2019. This is a decline from 1st in math and 3rd in science in 2011, and 2nd in math and 4th in science in 2015. The 8th-grade math ranking rose from 3rd in 1995, to 2nd in 1999, 2003, and 2007, and 1st in 2011, but has been declining since 2015. However, 4th graders ranked 3rd in math and 2nd in science in 2019, the same as in 2015. Still, average scores dropped by 8 points in math and 1 point in science over four years. For both 4th and 8th graders, Singapore remained the top-ranked country in math and science in 2019, as it was in 2015.

The number of children and adolescents dreaming of becoming scientists is also decreasing. According to the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training's "2021 Survey on Career Education Status in Elementary and Secondary Schools" released earlier this year, scientists ranked 13th in future desired occupations among elementary students in 2019 but fell to 14th last year. This was a recovery from a sharp drop to 17th in 2020. Among middle school students, scientists did not even rank within the top 20. For high school students, life and natural scientists and researchers dropped from 6th in 2019 to 8th in 2021, and chemists and chemical engineers and researchers fell from 16th to 18th during the same period.

A science and technology official appealed, "We must improve poor treatment, prevent the outflow of overseas talent, and actively strive to attract talents," adding, "Our country's future depends on how well we nurture and utilize STEM personnel."