Repeated Questions with Only Basics... Disappointing Yoon Seok-yeol's 'Science and Technology Policy' Debut Battle

30 Organizations Including Hanguk Gwachong Hold Joint Forum on the Morning of the 8th
Yoon Candidate Gives Only General Answers to Repeated Questions from Panelists

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] On the morning of the 8th, Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, held a policy discussion with scientists and technologists. This was practically the first occasion since announcing his candidacy for the 20th presidential election to reveal his policy pledges and vision for national governance in the field of science and technology. However, the event was poorly prepared by the organizers, with repetitive questions continuing. Some criticized Yoon for sticking to general remarks rather than presenting concrete solutions and alternatives. Recent sensitive issues such as the revival of the Vice Minister of Science and Technology position, the establishment of a dedicated space development agency, and controversies over its location were not even mentioned.

On that day, Yoon attended a science and technology policy discussion jointly hosted by 30 organizations including the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies at the Science and Technology Center in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, where he made his first official announcement of his science and technology policy pledges. At the event, Yoon stated that to strengthen the government's leadership in science and technology policy, he would establish a Presidential Science and Technology Committee directly under the president to formulate strategies and roadmaps. He also promised to appoint as many science and technology experts as possible to senior government positions so that science would be central in important national decision-making. He pledged thorough separation of politics and science, establishment of an autonomous research environment, activation of international joint research, attraction of multinational corporations' research and development (R&D) centers, introduction of a future-oriented research management system, and strengthening support such as expanding research funding and training opportunities for young scientists.

Yoon emphasized, "We must achieve scientific and technological innovation by leveraging the strengths of being the world's 10th largest economy. In the new inter-country competitive system, only science and technology powerhouses possessing science and fundamental technologies can leap to the forefront," adding, "We will become a science and technology powerhouse through bold innovation. Together with the science and technology community, we will firmly lay the foundation to become one of the world's top five leading countries in science and technology." He also attempted to differentiate himself by criticizing the Moon Jae-in administration for politically pushing the nuclear phase-out policy hastily, causing energy supply instability and making it difficult to maintain the world's best nuclear power ecosystem, thus dragging politics into the realm of science and technology.

The subsequent panel discussion showed clear signs of poor preparation, with many repetitive questions. First, Ju Hana, a first-year student at the Korea Science Academy of KAIST, asked Yoon, "Isn't it a dilemma to force science gifted students not to enter medical school?" The question implied that excellent talents in bio and medical fields are needed to overcome COVID-19, but gifted students are actually prevented from entering medical schools. This question was far from the intent of the special science and engineering schools receiving national funding, which aim to prevent gifted students from crowding into medical schools, as well as from the public sentiment. Yoon responded, "Rather than going to medical school, enter engineering colleges and participate in programs where medical science and biomedical engineering collaborate with medical schools," adding, "It is preferable for science gifted students to pursue medical science and biomedical engineering fields rather than becoming clinical doctors."

Kim Hae-bang, a Yonsei University student, asked about the causes and countermeasures for the shortage of science and engineering students and the imbalance in the supply of highly educated talents. Yoon cited the metropolitan area regulation law as the cause and expressed willingness to revise it, suggesting the establishment of minors and interdisciplinary programs within universities as alternatives. He said, "To foster talents needed by science and technology development and companies in our country, it is necessary to boldly break away from the quota regulations in the metropolitan area regulation law," adding, "We need to increase minors and interdisciplinary programs so that students can study what companies require."

Yu Su-bin, a researcher at Park Systems, asked about support measures for the development of basic sciences such as semiconductors and materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang). However, Yoon did not mention specific pledges or policies, referring instead to what he heard during his visit to the Seoul National University semiconductor research institute last year, again mentioning the revision of the metropolitan area regulation law and autonomous adjustment of school quotas. He also pointed out that Brazil, which is good at soccer, has hundreds of times more players beyond the national team, saying, "I think many researchers should form an ecosystem and develop from basic fields to applied commercialization technologies in the field."

Kim Ho-rak, a researcher at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, asked about ensuring long-term and autonomous research free from politics or performance-oriented approaches in basic nuclear power research and development such as space development and nuclear fusion. Yoon gave a general answer here as well. He said, "A considerable degree of neutrality should be guaranteed in budget and organizational operations," adding, "It is important to create a system where research can continue from the selection of projects through in-depth review and consultation, until results with significant technical and scientific meaning are produced, even if they are not successful."

Lee Sung-joo, a professor of industrial engineering at Seoul National University, asked about the state's role in conflicts of interest between new industries and existing industries. Yoon said, "As much as possible, regulations on new industries should be boldly abolished and not applied, so that society can gain much more, and regulations on existing industries can also be eased," but also gave a conflicting answer, "People involved in new industries sometimes only want their own regulations lifted. That is not desirable."

As Yoon continued to provide only general remarks rather than detailed solutions and policy alternatives, the next questioner, Lee Young-wan, a reporter from Chosun Ilbo, began by asking, "I would like to ask about the candidate's specific philosophy and strategy for national governance." He asked what specific strategies Yoon had to achieve the Moon Jae-in administration's goal of reducing carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 (compared to 2018), and whether he intended to revise the goal, which some say is excessive. Yoon, however, again gave only general remarks without presenting solutions or policies. He said, "The 2050 carbon neutrality goal is a target agreed upon by all humanity and must be achieved unconditionally," adding, "The roadmap by period should be readjusted by listening to opinions from the scientific and industrial communities."

Questions about talent cultivation were repeatedly asked rather than questions about overall issues in the scientific community. Jo Nam-jun, chair of the Korean Scientists and Engineers Association in Singapore and a distinguished professor at Nanyang Technological University, who asked via YouTube, inquired about attracting overseas talents to Korea, and an audience member asked about measures to resolve the aversion to science and engineering fields. Yoon said, "The most important thing is treatment," mentioning improving compensation and guaranteeing living conditions, and also mentioned expanding support such as financial investment in overseas joint research as alternatives. Referring to media reports that the number of computer majors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology increased tenfold in ten years, he once again explained academic system reforms such as revising metropolitan area regulations to allow autonomous quota adjustments and activating minors and interdisciplinary majors.

In addition, regarding Yoon's recently announced 'Central New Industry Belt' pledge, Lim Tae-hee, senior advisor of the People Power Party presidential campaign, explained, "It will lead the development of the Gangwon, central, and Honam regions, which were previously neglected, by connecting specialized industries in those areas and developing them centrally."

The discussion ended with Yoon reiterating his science and technology policy pledges in a 'general' manner. He said, "The dynamism of Korean society has declined because politics and ideology have dominated the economy, industry, and science recently, lowering autonomy and creativity," adding, "Life and death depend on science and technology. The nation, universities, research institutes, and private companies must unite their efforts fiercely to promote science and technology." He also stressed, "The future government must be one that values science and technology above all," and emphasized, "Just as carbon neutrality is pursued for sustainable civilization, current science and technology promotion policies are grossly insufficient to continue development and prosperity, and innovative and revolutionary policies and culture must emerge."

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