[Reading Science] The Shrunken Science Day Must Change Next Year

The 21st of this month marks the 57th Science Day. Every year around this time, the entire country is filled with the excitement of a 'science festival.' Science events held across the nation, including in Seoul and Daejeon, provide opportunities for young people to engage with science. The Gwacheon National Science Museum welcomes visitors free of charge, and festivals have been held on the lawn of the Hongneung headquarters of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), the cradle of Korean science and technology. Past presidents have attended Science Day events to encourage scientists.

This year, the atmosphere surrounding Science Day is different. Despite Korean science and technology receiving higher global recognition than ever before, the aftermath of last year's unprecedented national research and development (R&D) budget cuts continues to cast a dark cloud over the scientific community. The government and the public are focused solely on resolving the medical residents' strike caused by the expansion of medical school quotas. Science seems to have no place in this.

The pride of scientists has also been shattered. The decisive blow was the government's judgment that cartels are rampant in the scientific community. The honor of scientists, who prided themselves on contributing to national development, has fallen to the ground. Lee Chang-yoon, the 1st Vice Minister of Science and ICT appointed in February, said he heard voices from the field that "the perspective of cartels hurt more than the budget cuts." The hearts of scientists, who should be full of a spirit of challenge, have become sick.

Although the government repeatedly emphasizes a significant increase in this year's R&D budget, it does not even mention the cartel issue. It is impossible to investigate the reality of whether a cartel truly existed. Before long, 'cartel' has become a taboo word for the science authorities. People are curious whether a cartel really existed, but no one speaks about it.

The budget can be restored or even increased beyond the previous level of cuts. Support for student researchers is being strengthened, but will that be enough to revive the morale of scientists who have hit rock bottom? Reviving scientists' morale must begin with recalling why Science Day was established. In 1967, the Ministry of Science and Technology (now the Ministry of Science and ICT) acted on the scientific community's recommendation to establish Science Day to commemorate the founding of the ministry and to promote a nationwide science movement. 'Popularizing science in daily life' was also a personal philosophy of former President Park Chung-hee. Thus, the first Science Day ceremony was held in 1968.

Former President Park also took it upon himself to be the founder of the Science and Technology Promotion Foundation (now the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity). The foundation's purpose statement, written by Park, emphasized the urgent need to favor scientists and engineers for the promotion of science and technology and to foster a social atmosphere where science and technology permeate every corner of daily life. Park personally donated 1 million won from his own funds for the establishment of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (now KIST). According to the Science Creativity Foundation, when the government cut the institute's budget, Park ordered the Economic Planning Board to fully restore it. Since then, there have been no budget cuts to the institute's requests. It is clear that the original 'Science President' remembered by the scientific community is former President Park Chung-hee.

President Yoon Suk-yeol also claims the title of Science President and pursues science that challenges to be the world's best and first. For this, greater tolerance for failure than in the past is necessary. Politics must not fail, but science develops by using failure as nourishment. Cho Sung-ho, director of the KAIST Failure Research Institute, said in the institute's introduction that society must send a meaningful message that failed attempts should be viewed more generously.

Efficiency and failure must be clearly distinguished. Only then might the shoulders of scientists, who have been shrinking, straighten again. There is little time left. On next year's Science Day, we hope to see the passion of scientists embarking on challenging research once again.