Korean Media: South Korea Lags Behind China by 0.7 Years in Technology, Concentration of Science and Engineering Majors in Medical Schools Calls for Caution
Recently, the Ministry of Science and Information and Communications Technology of South Korea submitted the "2024 Technical Level Assessment Results" to the National Science and Technology Advisory Council. According to the report, if the United States is considered the standard for the highest level of technology, the technical gap between South Korea and the United States is 2.8 years, while China's gap is 2.1 years, meaning that South Korea has fallen behind China by 0.7 years. Since this indicator was first overtaken by China in 2022, the gap between the two countries has been continuously widening. In a comprehensive assessment covering 11 major fields and 136 technologies, South Korea ranks after the United States, the European Union (EU), China, and Japan, revealing its declining trend.
A more severe challenge lies in the structural expansion of the technological gap with China. Among the 50 key national technology assessments, South Korea lags behind the United States by 2.6 years, while China only lags behind the United States by 1.4 years. Even the secondary battery sector, which South Korea had long considered its advantage, has now been reversed by China. Currently, only the semiconductor sector maintains a slight leading advantage, but even this last stronghold is under threat due to China's fierce pursuit.
What is more worrying than the technological reversal is the collapse of the talent foundation that leads future science and technology. Recently, 144 prospective students who were admitted to "contracted disciplines" in semiconductor and automotive fields at Yonsei University and Korea University have given up enrollment. Although these disciplines are regarded as "entrance tickets for employment at Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix," the number of those who did not register has increased by nearly 40% compared to last year. According to Jang-ro College analysis, under the distorted structure of "medical school worship," these talents have shifted to Seoul National University's science and engineering or medical departments through repeated admissions.
Against the global backdrop where "technology is national power," the movements of competitors show completely different trends. Currently, China is consolidating the "Made in China 2025" initiative and accelerating towards "Made in China 2035." Every year, 5 million engineering professionals are put into practice. Japan has also selected 17 strategic industries and provided substantial government financial support to rebuild its core competitiveness in the industry. The United States has also taken manufacturing revitalization policies (MAGA) as a crucial lifeline to safeguard its technological dominance.
South Korea cannot afford to sit idle in this global transformation. It must follow the examples of the United States, China, and Japan, and decisively expand tax and fiscal support for corporate R&D and cutting-edge investments. It should also introduce a comprehensive incentive policy for scholarships, military service, and treatment for science and engineering talents. The "contracted disciplines" linking universities and companies should go beyond the simple "employment express" model and deeply upgrade toward cultivating world-class research competitiveness. In the turbulent competition for technological hegemony, if the foundation of talent is allowed to weaken, the country's future will lose its basis.
Source: JoongAng Daily
Original: toutiao.com/article/1858066064459776/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.