Bold Talent Recruitment by Research Institutes and Science and Technology Centers with 'Extension of Retirement Age'

KIST Abruptly Recruits Professor Lee Kwan-young, Former Vice President of Research at Korea University
Professor Kim Yoo-soo from University of Tokyo Finds a 'New Nest' at GIST for Research Transformation
Relaxation of Labor Cost Regulations and Budget Expansion as Opportunities to Secure Leading Scholars

Research institutes and science and technology institutes in the field of science and technology are actively recruiting scholar-level talents. With the removal of public institution designation for science and technology research institutes and science and technology institutes, regulations on the use of labor costs have been relaxed, and the budget for next year, which had decreased, has also increased significantly. As a result, it is expected that more talents will be recruited and research opportunities for researchers past retirement age will also increase.

(From left) Professor Lee Gwanyeong, Director Oh Sangrok of KIST, and Dr. Nam Seokwoo are posing for a commemorative photo after the recruitment ceremony of distinguished researchers. Photo by KIST

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced on the 2nd that it held a scholar recruitment ceremony and recruited Dr. Nam Seok-woo and former Korea University professor Lee Kwan-young. The two will conduct hydrogen-related research, one of the country's 12 strategic technologies, at the KIST Clean Hydrogen Convergence Research Center. Dr. Nam will serve as the project manager (PM) director, leading the overall research direction of the institute, while Professor Lee will focus on research as a scholar-level researcher.

The fact that the two researchers have newly settled at KIST is considered quite significant by the scientific community. It has opened a path for excellent researchers to continue their research, breaking away from the convention of retiring after reaching retirement age.

Dr. Nam retired from KIST after reaching the retirement age of 65 in June and was rehired. Professor Lee's case is even more unusual. Although he is 63 years old and has not yet reached retirement age, he chose to transfer to KIST. He had even held the position of vice president for research at Korea University, but he sought an opportunity at KIST to continue his research without being constrained by retirement age.

Both have confident aspirations. Dr. Nam stated, “As the PM of the Clean Hydrogen Convergence Research Center, I will set KIST’s unique mission and create results that the public can feel.” Professor Lee emphasized, “I will consolidate internal capabilities at KIST to conduct world-class research in the field of hydrogen energy.”

KIST plans to continue recruiting top-class researchers domestically and internationally. Oh Sang-rok, president of KIST, explained, “The Ministry of Science and ICT has allowed the free use of total labor costs from R&D reserves and also permitted the use of technology development reserves for labor costs in the innovation plan for science and technology research institutes, enabling us to recruit top-class researchers.” He added, “We will provide necessary treatment for top-class researchers. For Professor Lee, we created contract terms to offer treatment different from the existing methods within the allowable range.”

On the same day, the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) also announced the recruitment of Professor Kim Yoo-soo from the University of Tokyo as a chemistry professor. Professor Kim was the first Korean to be selected as a chief scientist at Japan’s RIKEN. He also serves as the director of the Quantum Transformation Research Division at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS). Professor Kim is recognized as a world-leading researcher in the field of surface and interface chemistry.

Professor Kim Yusu of GIST and Director of the IBS Quantum Transformation Research Division

Director Kim said, “At a time when I personally felt a great need for change in my research, I decided to return to Korea because GIST and IBS share the same goals.”

President Lim Ki-chul stated, “We have made strenuous efforts in close cooperation with IBS to bring Professor Kim Yoo-soo on board,” and expressed hope that “the world-class basic science research led by Professor Kim will contribute to the advancement of human civilization.”