[Exclusive] 'Why Only the Science and Technology Policy Institute?'... Science-Related Institutions Without Directors

STEPI Still Under Personnel Review Three Months After Director Candidate Selection
Rep. Lee Haemin: "Risks from Leadership Vacuum Must Be Resolved"

The appointment of the president of the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), which researches science and technology policy, has failed. There are concerns that the vacancy in the presidency, which has lasted for more than eight months, will be prolonged further. This phenomenon is not unique to STEPI. More than one-third of public institutions and government-funded research institutes under the Ministry of Science and ICT face concerns about declining competitiveness due to leadership vacancies.

According to the science and technology sector on the 30th, the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences recently held a board meeting and appointed presidents for the Korea Institute of Public Finance, the Korea Institute of Public Administration, and the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade, but informed that personnel screening is still underway for the STEPI president.

The National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences recommended three candidates for STEPI president on June 25: Professor Yoon Ji-woong of Kyung Hee University’s Department of Public Administration, Senior Research Fellow Lee Min-hyung of STEPI, and Senior Research Fellow Ha Tae-jung of STEPI. However, personnel screening has been ongoing for nearly three months. STEPI has been without a president since former president Moon Mi-ok, who was appointed during the Moon Jae-in administration, unusually resigned voluntarily after her term expired in January.

Although STEPI belongs to the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences, it has a close relationship with the Ministry of Science and ICT. Its establishment purpose is defined as researching and analyzing various issues related to science, technology, and related innovation. Its research fields include science and technology policy, space, and future strategy.

This situation is not unique to STEPI. According to data submitted by the Ministry of Science and ICT to Lee Hae-min, a member of the Science, Technology, Broadcasting and Communications Committee (People’s Party for Innovation), among 63 affiliated public institutions and government-funded research institutes (including affiliated organizations), 22 are either operating with vacant leadership positions or with acting heads following the departure of previous leaders, or their leaders’ terms are set to expire this year. Many institutions with appointed presidents have also experienced delays of nearly a year in appointments.

Currently, the terms of 15 institution heads have expired, including those of the National Research Foundation of Korea, Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, National Science and Technology Council (NST), and the University of Science and Technology. Among them, four institutions ? KISTI, Korea Nano Technology Institute, National Busan Science Museum, and National Institute for Mathematical Sciences ? are operating without even acting heads, leaving the leadership positions vacant.

In the case of KISTI, former president Kim Jae-soo abruptly resigned on the 31st of last month after his reappointment failed. NST, KISTI, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, Korea Food Research Institute, and Korea Railroad Research Institute have selected three presidential candidates each and are in the final selection stage, but it is uncertain whether a conclusion will be reached soon.

The Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, National Institute for Mathematical Sciences, and Korea Post Finance Development Institute had their presidents’ terms expire earlier this year but have not even started the appointment process after 7 to 8 months. The terms of seven institutions, including the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Korea Data Agency, Institute for Basic Science, and Korea Post Logistics Support Group, will expire within this year. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, both under the Aerospace Administration, are also searching for successors after their presidents’ terms ended.

A source in the science and technology sector said, "I cannot understand why the appointment of heads of institutions in the science field is particularly delayed."

Assembly member Lee Hae-min stated, "The failure to timely appoint heads of major public institutions in the science, technology, and ICT sectors has reached a level that could degrade national competitiveness in these fields. It is urgent to appoint specialized leaders for each institution’s core tasks to resolve the risks caused by leadership vacancies."