[Reading Science] Where Have All the Many Korean Geniuses Gone?

Korea Research Foundation Paper Presentation
At Least Half to Two-Thirds Do Not Return to Korea

"Where have all the geniuses of Korea gone?"

The phenomenon of highly skilled individuals, once hailed as prodigies and geniuses in Korea, not returning after studying abroad continues. Recent research shows that at least half to up to two-thirds of highly talented individuals who have earned doctoral degrees from prestigious overseas universities do not return to Korea. While major countries have intensified their efforts to track and manage top talent amid fierce technological hegemony competition, Korea has yet to properly assess the situation, highlighting the need for countermeasures.

Graduation ceremony at a university in Korea. Not related to the article. Stock photo.

Geniuses Who Do Not Return

According to the "Analysis of Domestic Research Performance of Foreign Doctorate Degree Holders" report published by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) in December last year, among Korean talents who studied abroad and earned doctoral degrees, it is estimated that at least half to up to two-thirds do not return but instead find employment and remain overseas. The actual number of new registrants in the NRF-operated "Foreign Doctorate Degree Reporting System," i.e., those who earned a doctoral degree abroad and returned to Korea to seek employment, was around 1,000 annually: 1,109 in 2019, 1,276 in 2020, and 998 in 2021. However, the total number of graduate-level international students as of April last year (according to Ministry of Education statistics) was 27,853, far exceeding the reported figures. By continent, North America (14,617) had the largest number, followed by Europe (8,134), Asia (4,163), Oceania (854), Latin America (78), and Africa (7).

Even looking only at the United States, where statistics are more reliable, this trend is more clearly confirmed. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) reported that 1,164 Korean-origin individuals earned new doctoral degrees in 2019. Meanwhile, the NRF's Foreign Doctorate Degree Reporting System recorded 1,109 new registrants that same year. Excluding other continents, the U.S. alone had 55 more doctoral graduates than the total number reported. Furthermore, graduate students in North America, including the U.S., accounted for about half of the total (14,617 out of 27,853 as of April 2022, or 52.47%).

Even considering other variables such as unreported returns or mid-course dropouts after returning to Korea, it is estimated that at least half to up to two-thirds of foreign doctorate holders do not return. Professor Kim Hana of KAIST’s Department of Technology Management, who authored the report, explained, "Among those who studied abroad, the number of people who earned a doctorate and did not return is much higher than those who returned," adding, "The probability of not returning is especially higher for those who studied in the U.S."

Why Do They Abandon Their Homeland?

The number of scientists and engineers remaining overseas is steadily increasing. As of last year, the Overseas Korean Scientists and Engineers Association had about 20,589 members, an increase of 270 from the previous year. However, in 2021, the number decreased by 42 to 20,319 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By country, the U.S. had the largest membership with 7,278, followed by Canada (3,040), Japan (3,000), and China (2,500). The association is established in 17 countries worldwide. Additionally, the government-supported Korean Scientists and Engineers Network (KOSEN) had about 147,000 members as of 2019. Park Gye-young, head of the international department at the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies, explained, "The number of Korean scientists working overseas has steadily increased, with some fluctuations, rising from around 19,000 in the 2010s to over 20,000 in the 2020s."

Why do Korean talents not return? Reasons cited include a free and affluent research environment, high salaries and welfare, abundant job opportunities, education for children, and a stable living environment. Professor A, who returned in the early 2010s after earning a doctorate in the U.S., said, "I intended to return from the start and did so partly because of my parents' age, but I hesitated a lot due to the authoritative atmosphere in research labs and concerns that my children would have difficulty adapting." He added, "These two reasons are why many fellow international students are reluctant to return to Korea." Park also noted, "Many young scientists in fields like artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technology (ICT) increasingly seek jobs in places like Silicon Valley in the U.S., where there are more jobs and better treatment. Living environment and children's education are also important considerations."

Recent U.S.-China technological hegemony competition and related countries' policies on 'internalization and talent acquisition' have also influenced this trend. Mr. B (53), a Korean-American scientist who studied abroad in the late 1990s, is a representative case. Until recently, he used a long-term residence visa with the intention of returning after retirement but obtained U.S. citizenship two years ago following active encouragement from his university. He said, "After the Trump administration, policies toward foreign-born personnel changed, and the school checked and urged me annually about citizenship acquisition. I felt it would be difficult to find a job in Korea, and my children disliked returning, so I obtained citizenship."

The government does not even have proper statistics on this talent outflow phenomenon. Professor Kim pointed out, "The U.S. has an organization in the form of a doctoral association that produces real-time statistics, and Japan conducts annual surveys every 3 to 4 years to track doctoral-level talent. To strengthen human resource competitiveness amid the situation where top talent does not return to Korea, it is necessary to track and investigate those who earned doctoral degrees not only in the U.S. but also in other overseas countries."