Science and Technology Researchers "Dissatisfied with Government Science and Technology Policies"

View of the Blue House from Namsan, Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] The majority of researchers affiliated with government-funded research institutes in the science and technology sector responded that they are 'not satisfied' with the current administration's science and technology policies.

According to the National Public Research Labor Union on the 29th, a survey conducted this month among 300 union members (research, administrative, technical staff) affiliated with institutes under the National Research Council of Science and Technology showed that 55.7% answered that they were 'not satisfied' (35%) or 'very dissatisfied' (20.7%) with the Moon Jae-in administration's science and technology and government-funded research institute policies.

Regarding research autonomy, 55.3% responded that it was either not well guaranteed or very poorly guaranteed.

Urgent tasks for autonomous and stable research execution included 'fundamental reform of government-funded research institute operations such as increasing the proportion of government funding and independent budget authority,' 'improvement of the government bureaucrat-led research and development system,' and 'abolition of performance-based system (PBS)'.

Negative evaluations of the current administration's personnel management in the science and technology sector recorded 58.9%.

Regarding the utilization of government-funded research institute personnel, including issues of youth unemployment, irregular workers, and discrimination based on job type, rank, gender, and age, negative evaluations accounted for 57.6%.

In particular, 62.7% responded that the Moon Jae-in administration's first pledge, 'conversion of irregular workers to regular positions,' was not properly implemented.

The government's response to the COVID-19 crisis and Japan's export restrictions on materials, parts, and equipment was positively evaluated, with 78.3% responding that it was handled well.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.