‘National Scientist’ program aims to boost research, attract foreign talent by 2030

President Lee Jae Myung delivers remarks throughout a nationwide discussion board on science and know-how on the National Science Museum in Daejeon on Nov. 7, on this picture supplied by the Presidential Office. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

 
In a push to create a brand new group of elite “national scientists,” President Lee Jae Myung has said his intention to boost assist for native scientific talent and recruit 2,000 researchers from overseas by 2030.
 
The authorities will launch a “National Scientist” program to assist 100 main scientists and engineers with globally acknowledged analysis achievements, deciding on 20 a 12 months till 2030, the Ministry of Science and ICT introduced throughout a public report chaired by President Lee on Friday in Daejeon. The program comes because the Lee administration aims to rebuild the nation’s analysis energy and world standing after years of finances cuts and mind drain.
 
 
“Throughout history, nations that invested in and valued scientific civilization have thrived, while those that disparaged or ignored science have collapsed,” Lee stated on the occasion, held on the National Science Museum.
 
He pledged to restore and additional broaden the nationwide analysis and growth (R&D) finances, emphasizing that the federal government will channel extra nationwide assets into science and know-how.
 
“We have decided to give our researchers the freedom and right to fail,” Lee stated.
 
“One of the most shocking things I’ve heard from researchers is that Korea’s R&D success rate exceeds 90 percent. If success were that easy, what would be the point? Failure builds the foundation for success,” he added.
 
The authorities plans to set up the choice standards for nationwide scientists within the first half of subsequent 12 months and to title the primary 20 National Scientists within the second half. Details on funding and privileges may even be finalized throughout that interval.
 

Ha Jung-woo, senior presidential secretary for AI future planning, offers a pre-briefing on the presidential workplace in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Nov. 7, forward of a nationwide discussion board on science and know-how held later that day on the National Science Museum in Daejeon. [YONHAP]

 
Ha Jung-woo, senior presidential secretary for AI future planning, stated the program’s design will “draw from global examples such as China’s Academician system to develop the most suitable model,” including that the federal government aims to “create an environment where future Nobel laureates can emerge.” 
 
The plan additionally consists of establishing AI science excessive faculties in regional areas, which can join with nationwide science and know-how institutes to fast-track Ph.D.-level talent growth. 
 
To attract abroad specialists, the federal government will herald 2,000 new foreign researchers by 2030 and assist prime worldwide college students with settling in Korea. Officials stated the initiative additionally seeks to capitalize on rising U.S. H-1B visa prices, making Korea a extra enticing vacation spot for world researchers.
 
Lee underscored the size of the federal government’s funding, saying the upcoming R&D finances was expanded “to an almost unimaginable level.”
 
According to the 2026 finances proposal submitted to the National Assembly, R&D funding will enhance 19.3 p.c year-on-year to 35.3 trillion gained ($24.3 billion), marking the biggest rise ever.
 
Lee additionally took a jab on the earlier Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s R&D finances cuts, referring to a 2023 incident at KAIST when a scholar protesting these cuts throughout a graduation ceremony was escorted out by presidential safety. 
 
“Isn’t this the place where someone was dragged out for speaking up?” Lee requested. “I was curious to see if that person might be here today. How unfair that must have been.” The comment drew laughter from the viewers.
 
Before the discussion board, Lee visited the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (Kstar) facility for its fusion nuclear energy reactor on the National Fusion Research Institute in Daejeon.
 

President Lee Jae Myung inspects amenities throughout a go to to the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy in Daejeon on Nov. 7, on this picture supplied by the presidential workplace. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

 
In a associated growth, President Lee appointed Lee Han-joo, a longtime confidant and former head of the State Affairs Planning Committee, as chairman of the National Research Council For Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences, which oversees 26 state-funded assume tanks.
 
The Prime Minister’s workplace described Lee Han-joo as “a macroeconomist and policy expert with extensive experience in national planning and governance, and a deep understanding of President Lee’s policy philosophy.” 
 
His time period runs via November 2028. Lee beforehand served as head of the Institute for Democracy, a assume tank of the Democratic Party, earlier than stepping down in late October for private causes.

This article was initially written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the assistance of generative AI instruments. It was then edited by a local English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY YOON JI-WON [[email protected]]