From a 98-Year-Old Senior to a 48-Year-Old Professor... Science Scholars Share Their "Moments of Failure"

Korean Academy of Science and Technology Launches “Scholars’ Career Decisions”
Sharing Choices, Setbacks, and Challenges from the Lives of Leading Researchers with the Public

Leading scholars who have shaped South Korea’s science and technology community will publicly share their experiences of failure, choices, and decisive turning points in their research careers. The concerns and frustrations that have remained behind the scenes, as well as the driving forces that have motivated scientists to continue their work, will be conveyed in the form of lectures and policy recommendations.

The Korean Academy of Science and Technology announced on May 20 that it will officially launch the “2026 Scholars’ Career Decisions” initiative, beginning with a lecture by Choi Seungbok in the afternoon.

'2026 Scholar Career Decisions' Yearly Schedule Promotion Flyer. Provided by The National Academy of Sciences

Now in its fourth year, this program features leading scientists, including Korea’s National Scientists and members of the Academy, who record and share their experiences of choices, dilemmas, failures, and challenges at the crossroads of their research careers through lectures and publications for the public.

This year’s lecture series will be held at the Academy Hall from May to early December, with a total of 11 speakers participating. Notably, participants include Jo Wankyu, the “living history of science and technology” at age 98; Moon Seunghyun, a scientist from Gwangju who served as president of the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST); Ahn Jongseok, who has worked as a researcher at government-funded institutes for nearly 40 years; Nam Kitae, a 48-year-old materials scientist recognized for a 2018 cover article in Nature; and Kim Hyunjung, the first female physicist to be elected as a member of the Academy.

Beginning this year, the Academy will go beyond traditional policy reports to launch “storytelling-type policy recommendations” that incorporate the personal research experiences and on-site cases of the scholars. Two presenters will be selected as authors to publish a policy recommendation report containing strategies and policy alternatives for the future development of science and technology by the end of the year.

Jin Ho Jung, President of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, stated, “The research experiences and insights of distinguished scientists are valuable assets accumulated by our society. I hope the records of their choices and challenges will offer guidance and inspiration to future generations of researchers and contribute to the continued advancement of our science and technology.”

Since the launch of the Scholars’ Career Decisions initiative in 2023, a total of 85 scholars have participated so far. Lecture videos and publications are being released through the official Academy website and YouTube channel, and this year’s lecture videos and policy recommendation reports will also be made available online sequentially.

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