"One Annual Project Per Researcher at Research Institutes Under the Office for Government Policy Coordination"

Economic, Humanities and Social Research Council Data Released on the 11th from Rep. Kang Min-guk's Office of the People Power Party

Kang Min-guk, Member of the People Power Party / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Bo-ryeong] It has been revealed that the number of research projects (institution-specific projects) conducted per researcher at research institutions under the Economic, Humanities and Social Research Council under the Office for Government Policy Coordination is only one per year. Half of the research institutions conducted less than one project per researcher.

According to the "Status of Research Projects Conducted per Researcher at Research Institutions under the Economic, Humanities and Social Research Council," obtained by the office of Kang Min-guk, a member of the People Power Party, through a data request to the Economic, Humanities and Social Research Council on the 11th, the number of research projects conducted per researcher at 26 research institutions each year over the past five years from 2017 to last year was only 1.1.

As of last year, among the research institutions under the Economic, Humanities and Social Research Council, the Korea Legislation Research Institute had the highest number of research projects conducted per researcher at 3.1. This was followed by the Korea Educational Development Institute with 2.3 projects, and the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs with 2 projects.

Among the 26 research institutions under the Economic, Humanities and Social Research Council, half, or 13 institutions, had fewer than one research project conducted per researcher annually.

During the same period, the number of research projects per researcher by institution was lowest at the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation and the Korea Information Society Development Institute, both at 0.2 projects. This was followed by the Korea Maritime Institute at 0.3 projects, and the KDI School of Public Policy and Management at 0.4 projects.

Regarding the low number of research projects conducted per researcher at research institutions under the Economic, Humanities and Social Research Council, most responded that it was "difficult to encourage paper publication due to the excessive workload of research tasks performed as commissioned projects to cover researchers' personnel expenses, in addition to the basic tasks that must be performed as government-funded research institutions."

Looking at the "Domestic and International Academic Journal Publication Performance of Researchers at Research Institutions under the Economic, Humanities and Social Research Council," the average number of academic journal papers published per researcher at all research institutions over the past five years was 0.94.

In response, Representative Kang pointed out, "Even if research institutions focus on commissioned projects due to insufficient funding, quantitative and qualitative considerations of institution-specific funded projects that prove the reason for the existence and value of research institutions must be prioritized."

He also emphasized, "Since there are limits to personal evaluations and reimbursement support at research institutions, it is necessary to actively consider introducing incentives such as standardized measures to promote paper publication applicable to all research institutions under the Economic, Humanities and Social Research Council."

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