Foreign Students Captivated by 'BTS·Ojingeo Geim'... "I Want to Live in Korea" [Reading Science]

Reference photo. Not related to the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "There are many outstanding foreign talents who wish to continue their research activities in Korea even after obtaining their degrees. However, acquiring permanent residency or citizenship is too complicated."

This was the remark made by Professor Nikolai at the 'Outstanding Foreign Talent Communication Meeting' held by KAIST and the Ministry of Justice on the 28th. Professor Nikolai is a 'unique' case who graduated from KAIST, earned his Ph.D. in the United States, then returned to Korea and was specially naturalized last year, currently teaching students at his alma mater. In a situation where the outflow of talent overseas is increasing due to the admiration for the free lifestyle and research environment in the US and Europe, it is remarkable that a US-born Ph.D.-level talent has returned to Korea.

However, the number of 'second Professor Nikolai' cases is steadily increasing. According to the Ministry of Justice, a total of 220 outstanding foreign talents have acquired Korean nationality from 2011 to September this year. While the number remained in the tens during the 2010s, it increased to 25 in 2016 and surged to 38 last year. This year, as of the end of September, there are already 27.

The 'potential' outstanding talents studying in Korea, such as master's and doctoral international students, also approach 40,000, with 22,062 in master's programs and 13,445 in doctoral programs, and there are over 6,000 professional personnel including professors and experts. Among them, KAIST alone has a total of 1,069 people studying or working, including 421 undergraduates, 236 master's students, 266 doctoral students, 79 researchers, and 67 faculty members. As of 2020, Korea ranks 5th in the world in total research and development (R&D) investment scale, and 2nd in the world in the ratio relative to gross domestic product (GDP). It is natural that talents flock to a country with the world's highest investment in science and technology. Moreover, as Korea has entered the threshold of a developed country, its economic, cultural, political, and social levels have risen, making it an object of admiration. The world's safest public security, convenient transportation, infrastructure equipped with advanced ICT technology, unique Korean food culture, and cultural arts such as BTS, Blackpink, and 'Squid Game' have increasingly attracted foreigners who want to live in Korea.

Meanwhile, Korea is facing an emergency in industrial workforce supply due to population decline. Especially with the shortage of quality workforce supply caused by issues such as the education system, these outstanding foreign talents are like 'rain in a drought.' Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that they do not become victims of power abuse in academia or leave Korea due to unstable treatment or status. Even the United States readily grants the difficult permanent residency and citizenship to scientists, artists, and other professionals who want them, actively securing outstanding talents.

But what is the reality? Besides Professor Nikolai's appeal, Korea remains a society closed to foreigners. A recent example is from Jeonbuk National University. Professor Lee at this university subjected a Mongolian doctoral student, Mr. A, to three times a week outpatient treatment for his child over one and a half years and did not hesitate to verbally abuse him by throwing socks at him for 'not listening.' He also committed 'theft' by putting his siblings' names on Mr. A's thesis and embezzled about 24 million won in labor costs.

Fortunately, on that day, the Ministry of Justice promised to strengthen support for the settlement of foreign students and staff at KAIST. We hope this will not remain mere words but will be realized as actual policies, creating a society where multicultural researchers coexist and build a 'community' Korea.

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