68.3% of Researchers at Public Institutes View Yoon Government's Science and Technology Policy Negatively

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] A majority of scientists affiliated with 25 government-funded research institutes expressed negative views on the science and technology policies of the upcoming Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

The National Public Research Union announced on the 21st that, according to a survey conducted on the 8th targeting 552 workers in 25 government-funded research institutes in the science and technology fields nationwide, 377 respondents (approximately 68.3%) gave negative evaluations. Specifically, 296 respondents (53.62%) said the policies were "appropriate but lacking in specificity," 43 (7.79%) said "inappropriate," and 38 (6.88%) said "very inappropriate," expressing critical opinions. Meanwhile, 95 respondents (17.21%) answered "neutral," and only 80 (14.49%) said the policies were "very appropriate."

Respondents also identified the most urgent tasks for the development of government-funded research institutes (multiple responses allowed) as stable research budget support (68.66%), morale boosting measures such as restoring the retirement age to 65 and strengthening performance rewards (57.79%), securing the effectiveness of research purpose institutions and reducing government intervention (51.81%), and efforts to improve treatment for morale boosting and attracting excellent personnel (41.30%).

Regarding the proposal to transfer the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, the Korea Polar Research Institute, and the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering?which were transferred to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in 2012?back to the National Science and Technology Council (NST), 63.59% supported the move, overwhelmingly more than the 8.88% who favored maintaining the current status. On the proposal to integrate and transfer the common research administration functions of the 25 government-funded research institutes to the NST, the most popular opinion (47.10%) was to transfer only specific functions such as technology transfer and audit tasks, while personnel and research management should remain with each institute as before. Opinions that it should be positively reviewed as it could increase research focus accounted for 25.72%, and maintaining the current system was 16.3%.

When asked about the desirable method of government budget support for government-funded research institutes, the most common opinion (41.30%) was to completely abolish the existing PBS (Project-Based System) that allocates budgets by research projects and provide 100% support for personnel expenses, operating expenses, and project expenses. Other opinions included complete abolition of PBS with 100% support for personnel and operating expenses (22.10%), complete abolition of PBS with 100% support for personnel expenses only (11.59%), and maintaining PBS with only an increase in the proportion of government funding (22.46%).

Meanwhile, the Public Research Union held a press conference on the 20th to commemorate Science Day (April 21) and criticized the cabinet appointments of Yoon Suk-yeol’s administration, including the nominee for Minister of Science and ICT, Lee Jong-ho. The union stated, "Many of the nominees recommended lack clear expertise in their respective fields or even basic morality, causing controversy," and added, "In the science and technology sector, Minister nominee Lee Jong-ho’s philosophy is overly focused on performance, and Professor Kim Chang-kyung (Hanyang University) is being mentioned as a senior secretary at the Blue House, raising widespread concerns across the science and technology community." In particular, they pointed out, "Professor Kim Chang-kyung caused major conflicts in the research field during the Lee Myung-bak administration by pushing for the forced integration of KAIST and the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and recently caused controversy over abuse of power in the transition committee. If the Yoon Suk-yeol government wants to successfully implement science and technology policies, it must not forget that it needs to appoint personnel who not only have expertise but also understand the demands and sentiments of the science and technology community, can work closely with researchers, and communicate democratically."

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