Government Launches All-Out Effort to Attract Talent to Korea in Boston, with Samsung and KAIST Joining Recruitment Drive

The government is set to hold an on-site recruitment and startup roadshow in Boston, United States, aiming to attract outstanding global researchers and advanced technology talent to Korea.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, on March 31 (local time), a 'Global Talent Attraction Promotion Event (Korea awaits your brilliance)' will be held in Boston, targeting outstanding global talent, including overseas Koreans. This event is part of the government's 'Brain to Korea' project and will operate as a cross-ministerial "one team" initiative, involving 28 organizations from government, academia, and industry, including the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

Reference photo to aid understanding of the article. International students are filling out job application forms at a global job fair held in Busan. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

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The reason the government is holding a large-scale overseas event is that the global competition for key technological talent has intensified. In fact, a survey of early-career Korean scientists residing abroad found that 74.2% expressed a willingness to return to Korea, but cited a lack of quality jobs, insufficient research funding, and inadequate support for stable settlement as major barriers.

In response, the government has structured this year's event not as a simple information session, but as an on-site platform that directly connects participants to recruitment, startup opportunities, and research funding support.

At the event venue, 10 companies-including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, LIG Nex1, and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)-as well as 14 universities and research institutes, including the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Seoul National University, Korea University, and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), will operate recruitment booths. Participants can engage in one-on-one in-depth consultations with representatives from these organizations to concretely plan their paths for research and employment in Korea.

Dedicated programs for aspiring entrepreneurs have also been strengthened. The government will set up separate startup booths to introduce domestic startup promotion policies and support systems for startups, and will share the experiences of earlier entrepreneurs, aiming to lower barriers to entry into Korea's startup ecosystem.

Notably, this year’s event has been scheduled to coincide with major recruitment periods for initiatives such as Brain Pool, the four major Institutes of Science and Technology InnoCore, and the industrial and bio high-level overseas talent attraction projects. This is designed so that participants can immediately apply for these support programs right after on-site consultations. Individual projects are eligible for funding of up to 350 million won, while institutional projects can receive up to 3 billion won annually.

Beyond research settlement support, the government also plans to expand settlement assistance, such as introducing the K-Tech Pass, which provides a 50% reduction in earned income tax for up to 10 years for outstanding talent in advanced fields, and establishing a new top-tier science and technology visa.

Gu Hyukchae, First Vice Minister of Science and ICT, stated, "We will continue to expand opportunities for direct communication so that outstanding researchers can recognize Korea as an attractive research hub," adding, "We hope that this event will serve as a milestone, providing practical settlement paths and future visions for those considering a move to Korea."

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