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Straits Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Straits Times
South Korea's brain drain – Why top talent is leaving
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox South Korea is losing its best and brightest to foreign institutions and companies. SEOUL - As South Korea ramps up its efforts to attract global talent by lowering visa hurdles and expanding scholarship opportunities for international students, its own highly educated professionals are quietly slipping away. Behind the nation's push to become an innovation hub lies a sobering reality: South Korea is losing its best and brightest to foreign institutions and companies that offer better pay, richer research environments and more promising career paths. At the centre of the exodus are South Korea's top universities and artificial intelligence (AI) research departments. Seoul National University, long considered the pinnacle of higher education in the country, has seen 56 professors leave for overseas positions in the past four years alone. Among them are not only scientists and engineers. According to the South Korean Education Ministry data, revealed by lawmaker Seo Ji-young, 28 professors in the humanities and social sciences, 12 in the natural sciences, 12 in engineering, three in the arts and physical education, and one in medical sciences departed for institutions in the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and elsewhere – lured by salaries up to four times higher than what Seoul can offer, along with generous research budgets and housing support. The loss of talent is accelerated by a domino effect: professors leave regional schools for Seoul – and from Seoul, they leave the country altogether. Data from South Korea's four major public science and technology institutes in the region – Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) and Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology (UNIST). DGIST and UNIST – reveals a similar pattern. Between 2021 and mid-2025, 119 faculty members left these institutions. Many moved to Seoul, but a significant number, including 18 professors, relocated abroad. Root causes The root causes of this talent outflow are systemic. South Korean universities suffer from frozen tuition fees, stagnant faculty salaries and a rigid seniority-based pay system. While public and private universities struggle to maintain competitive compensation, top global universities are actively headhunting South Korean talent. A professor making around 100 million won ( S$93,000) in Seoul may receive an offer of over US$330,000 ( S$421,980 ) abroad. 'With a salary gap of over four times, considering the benefits of doing research with abundant resources and receiving support for housing, there is really no reason to turn down a really good offer,' an assistant professor researching in AI who wished to be anonymous told The Korea Herald. Experts say the widening compensation gap between domestic and foreign universities stems largely from the deteriorating financial health of South Korean higher education institutions. For the past 17 years, the government has effectively frozen tuition fees by withholding certain types of national scholarships from universities that attempt to raise them. This freeze, coupled with the inability to adjust tuition for inflation, has placed universities under significant financial strain. According to the South Korean Ministry of Education, the average salary for private university professors increased by a mere 0.8 per cent over five years, from 100.6 million won in 2019 to 101.4 million won in 2024. These figures are based on full professorships; assistant professors earn considerably less. Conditions are even more dire at regional universities. A report submitted to the National Assembly by lawmaker Seo shows that, excluding Seoul National University, nine major national universities collectively lost 323 professors between 2021 and May 2025. Korea's AI experts leaving In parallel, South Korea's AI talent pool is also thinning. According to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Sustainable Growth Initiative, the country ranks No. 35 out of 38 OECD nations in AI talent retention. As at 2024, for every 10,000 people, 0.36 AI professionals leave South Korea, while countries like Luxembourg and Germany are net importers of such talent. Industry leaders and academics point to a lack of career development opportunities, insufficient computing infrastructure, and a heavy reliance on short-term performance evaluations. Surveys indicate that salary remains the top reason for choosing a job, with 85 percent of AI researchers listing it as their primary concern. And while US PhD holders in AI fields can expect starting salaries well over US$114,000 – more than US$139,000 for computer science majors – the average salary for a Korean doctoral researcher in the private sector hovers around 41 million won – barely a quarter of their overseas counterparts. Perception among researchers – that 'smart people don't stay here' – also plays a major role. 'Since there are better talent pools in laboratories at institutions abroad, and because major conglomerates prefer graduates from international schools, as they guarantee English speaking skills and expertise, people prefer to study abroad whenever they have the chance,' an AI researcher at one of South Korea's biggest conglomerates, who graduated from a domestic institution, told The Korea Herald. 'There is definitely a perception among colleagues. If a person has studied abroad, people tend to think they have 'something more' – that they are better than those who studied domestically.' Recognising the dire situation the country faces, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered newly appointed Prime Minister Kim Min-seok during their first meeting to devise measures to secure top talent in fields such as AI and biotechnology in response to the recent outflow of domestic talent. To counter this trend, experts are calling for a shift in national strategy – from merely preventing brain drain to fostering 'brain circulation'. This means creating an ecosystem that not only retains domestic talent but also welcomes international professionals and encourages overseas South Koreans to return. Recommendations include implementing performance-based compensation, offering globally competitive research infrastructure and expanding international joint research programs. 'Ultimately, the question is not whether South Korea can produce talent, but whether the country can evolve its systems fast enough to keep that talent from seeking greener pastures,' said a student currently pursuing a graduate degree in AI. 'Without proper compensation and opportunities to grow as an expert, the brightest minds will leave the country.' THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers make out-of-this-world breakthrough with nuclear tech the size of a finger: 'We can put safe nuclear energy into devices'
Battery research has transcended benchmarks measured in mere electric vehicle range and faster charge speeds. Experts are now dealing with nearly infinite lifetimes, according to findings published by the American Chemical Society. That's because a team at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea is among groups studying small atomic packs that could provide unlimited power for EVs, smartphones, and other devices without needing to recharge. "The frequent charging required for (lithium-ion) batteries isn't just an inconvenience. It limits the utility of technologies that use the batteries for power," the scientists wrote. The institute, referred to as DGIST, is working with radiocarbon that can provide small, safe, and low-cost power sources. Also called carbon-14, the substance is used for carbon dating, too. The nuclear battery works by harnessing high-energy particles from radiocarbon. Importantly, the journal noted that not all atomic material harms humans. Beta rays can be made safe when encased in aluminum or other elements, for example. The DGIST contraption is a radiocarbon betavoltaic pack. "I decided to use a radioactive isotope of carbon because it generates only beta rays," professor Su-Il In said in the findings. It's a byproduct of nuclear plants, making it an inexpensive source that's easy to recycle, and its slow degradation makes it a power source that could last for "millennia," per the report. That said, the Union of Concerned Scientists has consistently spoken out against experimenting with new nuclear tech, noting risks and prohibitive costs. The DGIST team is also working on improving the semiconductor needed for the packs to convert the rays to energy. So far, experts have improved the conversion rate from 0.48% to 2.86%, per the journal. Other nuclear batteries in development are being made to power sensors in space and deep underwater, among more extreme settings. England's University of Bristol is using carbon-14 as part of a small diamond-encased pack, as another example. DGIST envisions everlasting pacemakers to start with, and a solution to powering energy-gobbling data centers. The facilities are estimated by Goldman Sachs to use 165% more electricity by 2030. Other perks include air-pollution-free energy without the need to mine for the rare and expensive metals and minerals used in common batteries. While Sustainability by Numbers reported that we will need tens of millions of tons of deposits to power the clean-energy shift by 2040, it still falls far short of the 16.5 billion tons of dirty fossil fuels hauled from Earth each year. Nuclear batteries could offer an option that requires no mining at all. What's more, both lithium and atomic packs check the crucial box of reducing heat-trapping fumes linked by NASA to increased severe weather risks. Limiting the gas production at home is often accompanied by lower utility bills. Rooftop solar panels, for example, can save you on average $700 a year — that's even after expenses are deducted, per a government study. Simply switching out your old light bulbs for LEDs can bank hundreds of bucks annually while cutting significant pollution, too. At DGIST, the team intends to show the world that nuclear energy can also be utilized in small settings. If successful, the results could have huge implications. "We can put safe nuclear energy into devices the size of a finger," In said in the report. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Scientists make major progress on mission to create next-gen EV batteries: 'Will accelerate the commercialization'
Researchers in a South Korean battery lab have developed a doped material that has unlocked a lithium-sulfur pack capable of fully charging in 12 minutes, per details published by Tech Xplore. It's an important breakthrough in the effort to bring the promising pack type to market. Sulfur, used as a cathode material, is abundant and cost-effective and can hold more electricity than materials in common lithium-ion packs. But corrosion during operation has been a key hurdle for prior versions, according to experts at Argonne National Laboratory in a separate report. Experimentation at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology may have provided a solution. "This research focused on improving the charging speed of lithium–sulfur batteries using a simple synthesis method involving magnesium," professor Jong-sung Yu said in the Tech Xplore-published summary. When batteries cycle, ions move between the anode and cathode through an electrolyte substance. At DGIST, the team "synthesized a novel highly graphitic, multiporous carbon material doped with nitrogen and applied it to the cathode," per the summary. The new material was made with thermal reduction, a treatment using high heat. DGIST's process included magnesium and a metal-organic framework that contains nitrogen. In a hot environment, the magnesium and nitrogen react, "making the carbon structure more stable and robust while creating a diverse pore structure," according to the experts, per Tech Xplore. "This structure not only allows for higher sulfur loading but also improves the contact between sulfur and the electrolyte, significantly enhancing battery performance," the report continued. All the lab work only matters to motorists if it provides a safe, reliable power pack with great range and fast charge speeds. For comparison, Tesla's robust global network of more than 60,000 Superchargers can juice a battery with 200 miles' worth of power in about 15 minutes, according to the company. In addition to the 12-minute charge speed, DGIST's pack kept 82% of its capacity after 1,000 charge-discharge cycles, the experts noted. Would you buy an EV if it only took 5 minutes to charge? Sign me up No way Depends on the cost Depends how much range it has Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. It's all part of worldwide research geared toward finding a lithium-ion battery alternative that uses cheaper parts with better performance. Sulfur is among the promising materials gaining more attention. Automaker juggernaut Stellantis has even teamed up with Texas-based Zeta Energy on sulfur research with fast-charging potential. Potassium is another nontypical material being researched elsewhere as part of chemistry experimentation. For their part, lithium-ion packs remain reliable energy providers for EVs and large-scale storage, both growing in use. Reuters reported that global EV and plug-in hybrid sales jumped 25% last year to more than 17 million cars, for example. Each EV that replaces a gas-guzzler prevents thousands of pounds of heat-trapping air pollution. In the U.S., that's true even in states that generate most of the electricity to charge them with fossil fuels, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. What's more, planet-warming gases are known to cause a greater risk for respiratory trouble, as detailed by the American Lung Association. Switching to an EV is a great way to help cut exhaust and save up to $1,500 annually on gas and maintenance costs. Tax breaks of up to $7,500 are available to help offset the expense too. And thanks to DGIST, next-gen packs powering future EVs might include nitrogen-doped materials providing faster charge speeds. "We hope this study will accelerate the commercialization of lithium–sulfur batteries," Yu said, per Tech Xplore. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
