[Science Focus] Expectations for Government-led Plans to Foster Science and Technology Talent

Because so many English words have already been incorporated into the Korean language, it has become inevitable to study English in order to understand conversations properly or even to ask questions.

The announcement made by the Ministry of Science and ICT on April 25 also included unfamiliar foreign terms. Minister Yoo Sangim stated, "Based on the trilateral cooperation system, we will stably introduce and expand the 'Korean-style Stipend' so that science and technology talents can research and take on challenges without economic concerns."

But what exactly does "stipend" mean? According to the dictionary, it refers to a salary for ministers or teachers, a regularly paid allowance, scholarship, pension, or a small sum of money paid monthly.

Upon reviewing the details, starting as early as May, graduate students in science and engineering at participating universities will receive a "science and engineering research living allowance" each month, with the government, university, and principal investigator sharing the cost.

The amount is guaranteed to be at least 800,000 won per month for master's students and at least 1.1 million won per month for doctoral students. This year, a total of 29 universities?16 in the Seoul metropolitan area and 13 in non-metropolitan areas?applied for the support program, and all were confirmed as participating universities after evaluation. The government plans to invest a total of 979 billion won over the next nine years, from 2025 to 2033.

In the media, graduate students in science and engineering are often portrayed as living in the lab, exhausted and impoverished, with no personal life, devoted to their professors in a strict hierarchy, and burning themselves out to secure research projects. Occasionally, news reports feature professors who embezzle funds meant for students and treat them like slaves.

With the introduction of the Korean-style stipend, science and technology research students will be guaranteed a minimum payment for research participation, allowing them to focus more on research and studies within a stable economic safety net. As the government and universities will jointly manage graduate student salaries, which were previously handled by individual labs, a comprehensive system will be established to manage student researchers' research records and support status. If properly implemented, this is expected to improve the achievements of science and technology talents.

On the same day the Korean-style stipend was announced, the Ministry of Science and ICT also approved this year's implementation plans for the 4th Basic Plan for Fostering and Supporting Science and Technology Talent (2021-2025) and the 5th Basic Plan for Fostering and Supporting Women in Science and Technology (2024-2028).

According to the plan, the government will invest a total of 928.25 billion won this year?an increase from last year's 740.05 billion won?to pursue 337 detailed projects aimed at fostering and supporting science and technology talent.

The number of doctoral students receiving research encouragement grants will more than double from 1,122 students (16.3 billion won) last year to 2,281 students (38.1 billion won) this year. There is also a plan to select candidates for the Science and Technology Specialist Officer program, which serves as an alternative service system for science and engineering master's and doctoral students. The implementation plan also includes measures to dispatch domestic researchers abroad, promote joint research with overseas institutions, and expand recognition and support for contributors to science and technology.

To support the fostering of women in science and technology, it was decided to invest 143.4 billion won this year. Projects will be promoted to encourage women to enter science and engineering fields, provide reemployment education support for women whose careers were interrupted due to childbirth or childcare, and implement emergency care voucher programs to help science and technology professionals with work-life balance during childcare periods.

With global competition for technological supremacy intensifying, securing science and technology talent is the government's most critical task. It is hoped that systematic talent development measures will continue to be pursued without being swayed by populist campaign pledges ahead of elections.