4,628 Basic Research Projects Selected... 75% Increase in Young Researcher Projects to Nurture Next-Generation Scientists

914 More Projects Than Last Year
114 Foreign Researchers Selected
Regional Projects Account for 47%

This year, the government has significantly expanded its support for basic research by newly selecting 4,628 individual basic research projects in the first half of the year. In particular, the number of young researcher projects has increased by 75% compared to the previous year, with policy efforts focused on nurturing young researchers and restoring the research ecosystem.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that for the first half of 2026, a total of 4,628 new individual research projects have been selected under its basic research program: 2,558 core research projects, 1,770 young researcher projects, and 300 Sejong Science Fellowships (domestic). This represents an increase of 914 projects, or approximately 25%, compared to the same period last year.

Photo to aid in understanding the article. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, Hongbong Bae, is speaking at the Cabinet meeting. Photo by Yonhap News.

This individual basic research program is Korea's leading basic research support initiative, having continued for nearly 40 years since its inception in 1986. The government plans to help more researchers immerse themselves in research in a stable environment by increasing the basic research budget and strengthening researcher-centered support policies. In the second half of this year, approximately 2,000 additional basic research projects are also scheduled to be selected.

75% Increase in Young Researcher Projects... Strengthening the 'Growth Ladder for Researchers'

To revitalize the research ecosystem, the government has greatly expanded support for young researchers. The number of young researcher projects increased by 75%, from 965 last year to 1,687 this year. The Sejong Science Fellowship, which supports postdoctoral researchers, was also expanded by 50%, from 200 last year to 300 this year.

According to the "Plan for Fostering the Basic Research Ecosystem" announced last year, the government has been working to establish a "growth ladder for researchers" that progresses from the Sejong Fellowship to young researcher to core research. This selection round confirmed cases where such growth pathways are operating in practice.

For example, Wontae Lee, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Education at Kyungpook National University, was appointed as a full-time professor after serving as a Sejong Science Fellowship researcher, and was subsequently selected for a Young Researcher Type B project. Jooyoung Sung, Professor of Chemical Physics at DGIST, advanced from an excellent young researcher project to be selected for the "Dedicated Basic Research" project, a long-term support program lasting 10 years.

Photos of major researchers selected for basic research in the first half of 2026. From the left, Martin Steineger, Professor of Biological Sciences at Seoul National University (Core Research Type C), Cho Eun Jong, Research Professor of Environmental Engineering at Kwangwoon University (Core Research Type B), Sung Jooyoung, Professor of Chemical Physics at DGIST (Specialized Basic Research), and Lee Wontae, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Education at Kyungpook National University (New Research Type B). Provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT

Expansion of Projects for Foreign Researchers and Regional Areas

The recruitment of foreign researchers has also been expanded. The Ministry of Science and ICT explained that, as a result of policy improvements such as allowing the submission of research proposals in English last year, 114 foreign researchers from 24 countries were selected. This represents an increase of 78 compared to 36 during the same period last year.

Notably, Martin Steineger, Professor of Life Sciences at Seoul National University, was selected for a Core Research Type C project after participating in the young researcher support program. Similarly, Jongcho Eun, Research Professor of Environmental Engineering at Kwangwoon University (from Malaysia), was selected for a Core Research Type B project based on her prior research experience.

Strengthening regional research capacity is another key feature of this selection round. Of the projects selected in the first half of this year, 2,159 are being carried out in regional areas, accounting for 47% of the total—an increase of 618 compared to last year. The number of regional projects increased evenly across key regions such as the Seoul metropolitan area, central, southeastern, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and Honam regions, indicating the expansion of the basic research base nationwide.

Hong Baekhoon, Minister of Science and ICT, stated, "Since the launch of the new administration, we have been working to restore the collapsed basic research ecosystem by allocating a record-high R&D budget and expanding projects. By closely linking the basic research growth ladder from Sejong to young researcher to core research, we will support more researchers in stably immersing themselves in research."

The results of this project selection are scheduled to be individually notified to researchers on the afternoon of March 13.

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