Science and Technology Progressives and Conservatives Unite for the First Time... "Oppose National R&D Cuts"

Afternoon of the 5th: Formation Declaration of the Yeondaehoe
"Demanding Restoration and Apology for Cartel Betrayal"

Labor unions in the science and technology sector, managed by CMS, have united across ideological lines?progressive and conservative alike?for the first time in history to oppose the government's planned cuts to next year's national research and development (R&D) budget.

National Public Research Workers' Union. Archive photo.

The "National Science and Technology Solidarity Conference to Set Science and Technology Right," composed of nine unions from government-funded research institutes and the Ministry of Science and ICT, held a launch press conference on the afternoon of the 5th to declare their opposition to the government's R&D budget cuts.

They pointed out, "The government unilaterally cut 3.4 trillion KRW from the 2024 national R&D budget, violating procedures stipulated in the Framework Act on Science and Technology, and forcibly reduced nearly 30% of the major project funds of government-funded research institutes in the science and technology sector."

They continued, "Without communication with the field, under the name of a 'Government R&D System Innovation Plan,' a top-down approach, the government plans to introduce relative evaluation to research projects, forcibly restructure the bottom 20% of projects, and reduce research allowances and performance bonuses, among other institutional regressions. This is clearly an act of disregarding science and technology and destroying the research environment."

The Solidarity Conference emphasized, "The reason we are launching this solidarity conference for the first time in the history of the national science and technology sector is due to the urgent need to stand against the unilateral and violent suppression by the current Yoon Seok-yeol administration, to set national science and technology right, and to protect the nation's future,"

and strongly opposed, "The current government is pushing through budget cuts while slandering the research field, which has quietly contributed to the development of national science and technology, as an immoral cartel."

The Solidarity Conference presented four major demands: ▲Opposition to the government's unilateral budget cuts and institutional regressions ▲an apology for slandering the science and technology sector as a cartel ▲ restoration of the cut R&D budget ▲reflection of research field voices and rejection of command-style system innovation plans.

In conclusion, the Solidarity Conference stated, "We will become the cornerstone for setting national science and technology right through strong solidarity and unity," and emphasized their commitment to actively unite and fight in solidarity until the day national science and technology is properly established, blocking the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's moves that damage the research field.

The Solidarity Conference includes participation from the National Public Research Labor Union, the National Science and Technology Research Professional Labor Union, the Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute Labor Union, the Federation of Government-funded Research Institute Scientists Associations, the Research Management Public Institution Labor Union Federation, the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science Barun Labor Union, the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Researcher Labor Union, the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Science and Technology Labor Union, and the Ministry of Science and ICT branch of the National Government Employees Labor Union.

Earlier, on the 29th of last month, the government proposed a national R&D budget of 25.9 trillion KRW for next year at the Cabinet meeting, which is a 16.6% decrease compared to this year's 31.1 trillion KRW. The Ministry of Science and ICT's major R&D budget was also set at 21.5 trillion KRW, a 13.9% (3.4 trillion KRW) cut from the previous year. In particular, the basic research budget was reduced by 6.2% (160.7 billion KRW) to 2.4 trillion KRW, and the budget for 25 government-funded research institutes was cut by 223.7 billion KRW (9.4%) to 2.1 trillion KRW. Until June this year, the Ministry of Science and ICT was considering a slight increase compared to the previous year, but after President Yoon Seok-yeol mentioned "budget sharing" and "cartel" at the end of June and ordered a full review, the budget was drastically adjusted. The science and technology sector strongly opposes this, arguing that grassroots research is deteriorating, government-funded research institutes that have led national technology development are weakening, and it is becoming difficult to nurture talent for the future.

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