On November 7th, President Lee Jae-myung presided over a discussion at the ‘Korea Reimagining Science and Technology’ public report event held at the National Science Museum in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.
Following the government’s announcement of its talent policy and R&D innovation plan on the same day, criticism has emerged from the scientific community, calling for accurate situational assessment and fundamental changes.
Yeom Han-woong, Director of the Atomic Control Low-Dimensional Electronic Systems Research Group at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and former Vice Chairman of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council, criticized on the 9th, stating, “It is difficult to develop a constructive policy if the President spreads false information that over 90% of our country’s R&D projects are successful and formulates policies based on this.”
Yeom, a physics scholar who served on the advisory council during the Park Geun-hye administration and as Vice Chairman for five years during the Moon Jae-in government, emphasized that although there are agreeable aspects of the new plan, it does overlook some fundamental issues in Korea’s science and technology policies that need addressing.
He pointed out that since R&D is not evaluated based on success or failure, there is no such data as an R&D project success rate. He noted that the data was confirmed when he was Vice Chairman and that the misinterpretation stems from proceedings in the National Assembly.
Yeom criticized, saying it’s not fact-based, thus inappropriate to label only easy tasks as pursued due to fear of failure, and consequently, policies based on this view are unsuitable.
He also countered the government’s claim that the current evaluation system promotes quantitative evaluation, criticizing that it actually employs qualitative assessment. Therefore, there’s no basis for saying that quantitative evaluation encourages only easy research.
He stated, “The government providing criteria for evaluating scientists is an arrogant policy. Achieving effective evaluations through fragmented approaches, as presented, is difficult; it must be multilayered and high-level.”
Yeom added that the dissemination of fake information by the President indicates a failure in proper advice from aides or advisory bodies, and he hopes for the establishment of a proper scientific and technological policy advisory framework promptly.
In the scientific community, criticism is growing due to a prolonged vacancy of over two months for the Vice Chairman of the Science and Technology Advisory Council and delays in appointing heads for key science and technology institutions like KAIST and IBS.
Yeom also expressed disappointment in talent attraction policies, emphasizing the lack of strategies for recruiting and developing talent domestically beyond attracting AI and elite overseas talent.
He argued that even if the previously ceased national scientist system is revived, it wouldn’t elevate scientists’ status or attract outstanding talent as role models.
Moreover, he highlighted how the poorer conditions for researchers at government-funded institutions and universities compared to corporate R&D positions and international standards drive talent abroad or to domestic conglomerates, critiquing superficial policies without fundamental contemplation and remedies.
Song Young-min, a professor from KAIST’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, noted positive aspects such as enhanced researcher autonomy, long-term talent development, and the creation of a national scientist position. However, he stressed that making these changes temporary for accolades would be worse than not changing at all, underscoring the importance of policy continuity over change.
The practice of altering project scale, budget, support duration, and scholarship policies with each government change has unsettled researchers’ life plans and futures, generating a defensive research culture focused on immediate and feasible projects.
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