Only 1 SCI Paper in a Year from 104 Researchers...Jeonnam’s Stark Reality

Performance gap with the Korea National Institute of Health: "330 times"
Assemblyman Cha Youngsu: "Stop using testing and inspection as an excuse"

Despite having more than 100 professional researchers, the Jeonnam Institute of Health and Environment has come under fire for its weak research capacity, with only a single paper published in an international academic journal.

On February 3, Assemblyman Cha Youngsu of the Jeollanam-do Provincial Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea, Gangjin) sharply criticized the institute's poor research performance during a work report session on the Jeonnam Institute of Health and Environment, and called for a full-scale overhaul of its structure.

Cha Youngsu, member of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly

The Jeonnam Institute of Health and Environment is a core specialized agency of Jeollanam-do that conducts food and pharmaceutical safety inspections directly linked to residents' health, responds to infectious diseases, and analyzes environmental pollution. Beyond simple testing, its reason for existence also lies in its "research function," which requires it to proactively analyze regional environmental and health issues and provide policy grounds.

However, according to data disclosed by Assemblyman Cha, although 104 professional researchers are currently working at the institute, its academic publication record for 2025 amounts to only 14 papers in total. In particular, there was only one paper published in an SCI-level journal (Science Citation Index), which is recognized as having international authority, prompting criticism that the label of "research institute" is hardly justified.

This gap becomes even clearer when compared with the Korea National Institute of Health, which performs similar functions. The Korea National Institute of Health, with 155 researchers, produced 330 SCI papers and 31 non-SCI papers last year, achieving overwhelming research results. While the staff size differs by only a factor of 1.5, the number of SCI papers, which are the core research output, differs by more than 300 times.

Assemblyman Cha pointed out, "They must not neglect their fundamental mission as a research institute by using busy testing and inspection work as an excuse," adding, "Academic papers are the most basic indicator that proves an institution's expertise and credibility, and with the current dismal report card, it is difficult to justify its status as a research institute."

He also expressed concern about the side effects that a decline in research capacity could cause. Assemblyman Cha warned, "If research achievements are not accumulated, the institute will inevitably fall behind in the competition for major research projects from the central government and for external service contracts," and added, "If this exclusionary structure becomes entrenched, even the very reason for the organization's existence will be shaken."

He went on to say, "The fact that there is not even an annual publication target per researcher shows complacency in the operation of the institution," stressing, "Since it is run with residents' tax money, it must not remain a simple testing agency but be reborn as a research organization that produces tangible results."

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