South Korean media: Why has South Korea not yet won a Nobel Prize in Science?

On December 30, the South Korean newspaper "Gukmin Daily" published an article stating that every December, the world's attention turns to Stockholm, Sweden, where the highest honor in academia, the Nobel Prizes, are awarded. With the novelist Han Kang winning the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, people have begun to speculate whether South Korea should now have a science prize winner, following the Nobel Peace Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature. However, over more than a century since the establishment of the Nobel Prizes, no one from South Korea has ever won a Nobel Prize in Science.

This year, after the announcement of the Nobel Prizes, the atmosphere in South Korea and Japan's scientific communities was completely different. Professors Sakaguchi Simon of Osaka University and Kitagawa Jin of Kyoto University respectively won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Japan has so far produced 27 Nobel laureates in Science. Although the Nobel Prizes in Science are mainly awarded to the United States and Europe, there are also winners from Asia, including Japan, India, Pakistan, and China.

South Korea's technological investment truly began in the 1970s, but it mainly focused on short-term results, especially in applied fields. This indicates that South Korea still has a long way to go before winning a Nobel Prize in Science. Some analysts believe that Japan's long-term vision and support system centered around researchers have been effective.

After World War II, Japan strategically developed basic sciences, placing scientific and technological development above economic reconstruction. Japan's scientific prosperity is due to the respect for scientists and engineers, as well as the guarantee of research autonomy and continuity. To encourage innovative research, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science established a "research grant" program, allowing scientists to freely choose their research topics.

In contrast, Article 127 of the South Korean Constitution states that promoting the development of science and technology is crucial for "national economic development." This national policy has led South Korea to neglect science and basic science, focusing instead on short-term benefits.

This also relates to the current phenomenon of talent drain in South Korea's science and engineering fields. Data shows that 316 students who received South Korean government science scholarships in the past five years switched to medical fields. A survey by the Korean Institute of Vocational Education and Training found that 30% of newly graduated PhDs in science and engineering are unemployed, while another 21.3% are working in temporary jobs. At the same time, the employment rate of doctors of all age groups is almost 100%.

Due to low salaries and unstable jobs, many young people with dreams of becoming scientists are leaving the research field. In this context, talent is also flowing to China. A top South Korean scholar who once set the record for the youngest academician at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) moved to a Chinese university this September. Previously, other renowned scholars such as Lee Ki-myeong, former vice president of the Korea Institute for Advanced Study, and Lee Young-hee, distinguished professor at the Institute for Advanced Study at Sungkyunkwan University, also chose to go to China.

A survey conducted by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in May regarding its official academicians showed that 61.5% of respondents had received job offers from overseas research institutions in the past five years. Among them, 82.9% said the offers came from China.

To prevent talent loss, South Korea must create an environment conducive to scientists and engineers focusing on research. This includes improving compensation, launching a national scientist recognition system, establishing integrated research centers, and simplifying research management. Additionally, South Korea must create an environment that enhances the social status of scientists and engineers.

Since the 1970s, South Korea's scientific and technological development has faced many challenges. Although significant achievements have been made along the way, the South Korean scientific community also faces various challenges, including talent outflow, technology outflow, and a lack of Nobel Prize nominations.

If an environment is created where emerging researchers can boldly conduct research without fear, if the goal of science and technology is expanded from economic development to solving human problems, and if a society that respects scientists and engineers is established, then winning a Nobel Prize in Science will no longer be a distant dream for South Korea.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1852894825375760/

Statement: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.