"At Samsung, You Get 100 Million Won..." Widening Rich-Poor Gap, Financial Support Must Be Expanded [Semiconductor Talent 'Each Country Survives on Its Own']⑥

No Semiconductor Workforce

Increase R&D Budget to Create Research Environment
Expand Skilled Master's and PhD Personnel
Need Long-Term Perspective, Not One-Time Measures

Experts point out that the government's plan to expand the enrollment of semiconductor contract departments as a key measure to secure talent "cannot fundamentally resolve the mismatch between the talents companies need." They emphasize that increasing the budget to enable sufficient research activities, even if it is more difficult and time-consuming than undergraduate contract departments where professional education is impossible, and nurturing high-level talent at the master's and doctoral levels will ultimately lead to a virtuous cycle in semiconductor workforce supply and demand.

Professor Kim Seong-jae of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Seoul National University said, "Increasing the enrollment in semiconductor-related departments is good, but it is important to attract the interest of current professors and students to semiconductors." He explained, "About half of the 500 domestic semiconductor professors have given up semiconductor research due to lack of research funding. If research funding in the semiconductor field is significantly increased, professors will resume research, and a virtuous cycle will emerge with more graduate and undergraduate students."

[Photo by SK Hynix] [Image source=Yonhap News]

He also pointed out that programs providing students with hands-on experience in the entire semiconductor process cycle should be developed. This means that practice rooms and educational equipment and devices for practical training must be established first. In the research field, there is an urgent need to quickly replace outdated equipment with the latest models and significantly increase research funding to link it to tangible outcomes.

Professor Im Hyun-sik of the Department of Physics and Semiconductor Science at Dongguk University said, "The R&D budget disparity between schools is too severe," adding, "Although the budget has been greatly expanded under the current government, since this is a process to lay the foundation for talent development, it is important to increase R&D-related budgets without limiting them to specific universities."

He also suggested the need for concrete policies to nurture master's and doctoral-level talent rather than high school graduates or bachelor's degree holders. Professor Im said, "We need to recruit many graduate students, but these days students do not want to go to graduate school. They want to get a job immediately and earn a high salary." He added, "Currently, master's and doctoral students live on 2.5 to 3 million won per month for six years, but if they get a job at Samsung, including bonuses, they can earn up to 100 million won. Even if it is not at the level of large corporations, financial support should be provided to increase the number of graduate students."

The corporate perspective is the same. Especially as the difficulty of memory and foundry processes increases exponentially, finding talent with the skills companies want is like "picking stars from the sky." With expectations of a semiconductor boom this year, demand for personnel in design devices, processes, and sales marketing is expected to increase compared to before, but companies are struggling to find personnel who can be immediately deployed in practical work.

A representative from the semiconductor industry emphasized, "Because of the immediate shortage of talent, efforts are being made to nurture high school graduates and undergraduate personnel to secure future talent, but master's and doctoral-level personnel are most needed."

Professor Kim Sung-jae, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University; Professor Lim Hyun-sik, Department of Physics and Semiconductor Science, Dongguk University; Professor Park Jae-geun, Department of Convergence Electronics Engineering, Hanyang University.
[Photo by each university homepage]

There was also a suggestion that companies develop practical workforce training programs linked to industry demand. Professor Kim said, "Support for development is needed to bridge the gap between the job competencies required by the industry and existing degree programs," adding, "At the same time, collaboration with universities should be expanded not only in device technology but also in foundational technologies such as materials, parts, and equipment."

Above all, it is pointed out that continuous interest from the government and local governments is required so that an educational foundation can be established from the perspective of long-term talent development rather than one-off support. Professor Park Jae-geun of the Department of Convergence Electronics Engineering at Hanyang University said, "Since semiconductors are a national issue rather than a political issue, the government and the National Assembly must implement consistent policies with one mind and support them through budgets," adding, "Semiconductors are a timing industry, and the timing must never be missed."

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