"Internal Crackdown and Division Encouraged Within Research Institutes in Response to R&D Budget Cutback Opposition"

Science and Technology Alliance Meeting Criticizes Ministry of Science and ICT on the 18th

Unions in the science and technology sector, regardless of progressive or conservative affiliations, strongly criticized the Ministry of Science and ICT's announcement of cuts to the national research and development (R&D) budget and called for a full restoration.

On the 15th, the National R&D Budget Cut Prevention and Proper R&D System Innovation Achievement Public Research Workers' Full-Force Resolution Rally was held at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City. Photo by the National Public Research Workers' Union website.

The Science and Technology Solidarity Conference for Correcting National Science and Technology issued a statement on the afternoon of the 18th, saying, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which had no clear method other than gathering heads of government-funded research institutes for internal control, unilaterally explained the government’s position in a closed meeting with only a few young researchers from some R&D budget-increased fields, such as the seven strategic areas, as backlash from the research field intensified." They added, "They packaged this as if the government’s position had been explained to and agreed upon by all science and technology workers in the country." They further stated, "We are increasingly disappointed and angered by the government’s behavior, which seems to foster division and discord between research fields and generations." They urged, "Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT and others must fully assume responsibility and duty for the national chaos triggered by the 2024 national R&D budget cuts, thinking solely of the nation and its people in accordance with President Yoon Seok-yeol’s philosophy of 'not being loyal to individuals.'"

The Solidarity Conference also demanded ▲a clear and detailed disclosure of the reality and inefficiency cases of the research funding cartel ▲full disclosure of the list of cut R&D projects and the rationale behind the cuts ▲holding a final debate with the joint representatives of the Solidarity Conference ▲active cooperation in the National Assembly’s budget review to fully restore the cut budget.

The Solidarity Conference was formed on the 5th by unions related to science and technology from both progressive and conservative sides. Eleven organizations participated, including the National Public Research Labor Union, the National Science and Technology Research Professional Labor Union, the Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute Labor Union, and the Federation of Government-funded Research Institute Scientists Associations.

Earlier, Minister Lee announced on the 22nd of last month an innovation plan to cut next year’s major R&D budget by 13.9% and to restructure the bottom 20% of national R&D projects. In particular, the total budget for government-funded research institutes is about 5.5 trillion won annually, accounting for 16.6% of the government’s R&D budget, and it is known that 20% of the major project budgets for these institutes were cut in next year’s budget proposal. In response to backlash from researchers at these institutes, Minister Lee met with heads of 25 government-funded research institutes in 25 science and technology fields on the 24th of last month to persuade them. On the 15th, he also met with young researchers at the Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, explaining that "efforts were made to ensure that the budget for the growth of young researchers would not be reduced."

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