Korean Media: [Editorial] "Brain Drain" from South Korea Will Undermine the Nation's Future

Summary: 43% of South Korean tech talent is considering leaving the country to work abroad within three years; urgent need to improve compensation systems and build a stable research environment

The phenomenon of South Korean science and engineering talents flowing out has been ongoing for many years. Outstanding professors at domestic universities are moving to foreign universities, and even retired professors are being poached by neighboring countries. It is not uncommon for outstanding talents who have studied abroad to choose not to return to South Korea. According to statistics, approximately 10,000 science and engineering master's and doctoral degree holders leave the country each year, forming a "brain drain" trend.

The problem is that the current trend of science and engineering talents "escaping South Korea" is accelerating. According to a survey report released by the Bank of Korea yesterday, a questionnaire survey of 2,700 domestic science and engineering talents showed that 42.9% of respondents said they were "considering leaving the country to work abroad within three years." More worrying is that this proportion rose to 62% among the age group of 20-39, meaning that the flood of core talents supporting South Korea's technological future "escaping South Korea" may become even stronger.

The primary reason for science and engineering talents considering overseas employment is "economic factors such as salary" (66.7%), followed by research environment and network (61.1%) and job security (48.8%). However, the deeper root cause lies in unfair treatment of science and engineering talents and insufficient job opportunities domestically. The survey shows that if "employment stability" can be improved, even without increasing income or promotion opportunities, it can reduce the probability of talent outflow. In the current reality where companies often cut down on researchers when their business conditions deteriorate, choosing to develop overseas has become an inevitable rational choice for individuals.

High-quality human resources were the core driving force behind South Korea's industrialization and economic growth. Science and engineering talents have enhanced productivity through technological innovation, becoming the mainstay supporting South Korea's sustainable development. However, with the growing trend of science and engineering elites "switching to medical schools" and continuous outflow, the shortage of talents in the field of science and engineering in South Korea has become increasingly severe. It is expected that by 2027, there will be more than 60,000 talent gaps in new technology fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, and nanotechnology, and South Korea has even been labeled as a "country with a talent deficit" in high-end technology areas.

In the increasingly fierce global technological competition, ensuring excellent talents has become the top priority for national survival. The immediate task is to reform the compensation system, which is far behind international standards, and urgently establish a performance-oriented flexible compensation mechanism centered on incentive systems. It is necessary to reform the government-led "scattering pepper-style" research funding allocation structure and strengthen R&D capability building at the national level, ensuring that science and engineering talents can continue to conduct stable research and accumulate professional qualifications domestically. At the same time, it is necessary to relax rigid systems that restrict scientific research activities, including various restrictions such as the rigid 52-hour weekly work system. Senior science and engineering talents are the core strategic resources supporting South Korea's future development, and it is essential to create a quality environment for them to stay in South Korea and focus on scientific research.

Source: JoongAng Daily

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847855799848012/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.