[Opinion] The Decline of Science and Technology Due to 'Interest Cartels, Demons, and Invasions'

Scientists Driven Out as Research Fund Thieves
‘Mungwa Chim-gong’ Expression Also Belittles Science Students

It is said that 52% of the first successful applicants to the College of Humanities at Seoul National University in this year's regular admissions were ‘science-track students.’ This is not limited to the College of Humanities. 70.6% of the College of Human Ecology and 63.8% of the College of Social Sciences were also science-track students. Concerns are being raised that the ‘liberal arts invasion’ by science-track students, which the Minister of Education pointed out last year as the most serious issue in university admissions, is going too far. There even seems to be some humanities professors complaining that the atmosphere in lecture halls is changing as the number of science-track students lacking ‘historical knowledge’ increases.

The identity of these ‘science-track students’ who are said to be ‘invading (侵攻)’ the liberal arts fields is peculiar. This is because the curriculum was changed to an ‘integrated’ system without distinction between liberal arts and sciences, and the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) was also changed to an ‘integrated’ format starting in 2021. It has become impossible to determine the ‘background’ of students admitted to liberal arts fields based solely on university admissions data.

The so-called liberal arts invasion is likely a subjective optical illusion of the Minister of Education and humanities professors at Seoul National University. This may be the result of focusing only on the choice of mathematics subjects in the CSAT. If a student chooses ‘Statistics and Probability,’ they are considered a ‘liberal arts student,’ and if they choose ‘Geometry’ or ‘Calculus,’ they are considered a ‘science student.’ Even liberal arts students with rich historical knowledge may choose Geometry or Calculus to achieve higher standardized scores. In fact, Geometry and Calculus are very popular at private academies, and universities are overflowing with students taking Calculus and coding elective courses, thanks to so-called repeat test-takers.

The term ‘liberal arts invasion’ is heavily imbued with an anti-educational derogatory connotation toward science-track students. It implies an insulting meaning that science-track students, who used to flock to medical schools for personal gain while neglecting their primary role as ‘engineering types,’ are now shamelessly coveting the ‘cake’ that should go to liberal arts students.

The derogation of science-track students does not end with the liberal arts invasion. Today, science and technology professionals from science backgrounds have become a ‘predatory interest cartel’ in our society. Scientists and technologists, who should be devoted to innovative and leading research and development (R&D) to develop ultra-competitive technologies necessary for national development, have instead degenerated into ‘gang thieves’ who divide and share precious national R&D funds.

The situation of doctors, who extended the average lifespan from under 40 to 80 years and improved infant mortality rates to the world's lowest level despite having to accept ‘half survival,’ is also dire. They have now become a ‘demonic criminal group’ that holds public health hostage to pursue their own interests.

We must not recklessly demonize ‘residents (interns and residents)’ and ‘medical students’ who strongly oppose this. This is because the sudden 65% (2,000 students) expansion of medical school quotas is an outrage unseen anywhere else in the world. Japan increased its medical school quota by 23.5% (1,795 students) over ten years, and the UK’s first-year increase announced last year was only 2.2% (205 students). The expansion of medical school quotas should not be confused with the abolition of the bar exam. Excessive expansion of medical school quotas could irreversibly undermine the doctor training system and medical field.

It is not the time to unilaterally shout about a ‘shortage of 10,000 doctors by 2035.’ The Ministry of Health and Welfare’s claim that emergency patients can be sent abroad by plane is an absurd ‘urban legend.’ Public fatigue with the demonization of doctors who protect public health is exceeding limits. It is not the time to trust public opinion from a month ago.

Lee Deok-hwan, Professor Emeritus at Sogang University, Chemistry and Science Communication

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