Why Korean STEM talent continues to move abroad

The importance of STEM talent continues to grow, as it drives a country's sustainable economic growth by fostering innovation and increasing productivity. However, according to research from the Bank of Korea (BOK) released Monday, many top talents in Korea tend to move abroad in search of better research environments and career opportunities — unless they have already chosen to attend medical school after high school. While Korea's science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforces have steadily expanded in size over the past several decades, the central bank noted that structural constraints within the country have hindered them from fully realizing their potential. As of 2022, Korea's research and development workforce reached approximately 170 researchers per 10,000 people — one of the highest ratios among major countries. "Satisfaction with job conditions and treatment among STEM professionals in Korea remains relatively low. Moreover, the ecosystem and investment base for technology startups — where such talent could expect higher economic rewards — are still underWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times