Expansion of Job Compensation for Science and Technology Professionals and Public Sector Jobs
Promotion of Advanced Research Administration Act... "Will Provide Respect and Pride"
On the 26th, the government and the People Power Party announced that in addition to the Korean-style Stipend (Science and Engineering Graduate Research Living Scholarship), which provides 800,000 KRW per month for master's students and 1,100,000 KRW per month for doctoral students in science and engineering fields, they will newly promote a 'Master's Specialized Scholarship' that grants 5 million KRW annually to 1,000 master's students. The purpose is to increase financial support for young researchers in science and engineering to minimize cases of giving up studies and research or leaving the country.
Kim Sang-hoon, the Policy Committee Chair of the People Power Party, made this announcement after the party-government meeting held at the National Assembly in the morning to revitalize science and engineering fields.
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the global scientific talent contribution score of scientific talents leaving Korea was 1.69 in 2022, but the contribution score of scientific talents entering Korea was only 1.41, making Korea a 'science and engineering talent deficit country.' In his opening remarks, Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader of the People Power Party, pointed out, "If the outflow of talent continues, Korea's scientific and technological competitiveness will inevitably decline."
The party and government agreed to create a stable research environment that can alleviate concerns about living expenses, tuition support, compensation for researchers, and job security for scientific and technological talents. To this end, they agreed to expand support for compensation for inventions made by scientific and technological personnel, increase the hiring of postdoctoral researchers, and increase public sector jobs. Additionally, they plan to extend the period of reduced working hours and expand discretionary work systems to prevent career interruptions for women scientists and technologists and to enable work-family balance. Furthermore, they intend to revise the 'Science and Engineering Support Special Act' to establish a basis for systematic and effective tailored support policies according to the growth cycle of scientific and technological personnel.
Moreover, they will promote the enactment of an advanced research administration service law to enhance national respect and pride for scientific and technological talents, and activate science communication by preferentially treating technology contributors and widely publicizing success stories of scientific and technological personnel to change social perceptions of them.
During the meeting, opinions were also raised such as 'easing visa policies to attract overseas talents' (Assemblyman Kim Dae-sik), 'additional increase in next year's research and development (R&D) budget' (Assemblyman Choi Hyung-doo), and 'relaxation of military service special cases criteria for talent cultivation' (Assemblyman Park Chung-kwon).
Chairman Kim stated, "The party and government agreed on the need for fundamental and long-term measures to support talents entering and growing in the science and technology sector so that they can take pride and confidence while actively working in all fields of industry, academia, and research." He added, "We will support securing a stable budget that can continuously back the growth and development of scientific and technological talents and strive to expand the necessary budget during the 2025 budget review process."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
