In recent years, there has been growing concern among basic science researchers about the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s plan to increase the number of medical students in the country. These researchers worry that this focus on medical schools could marginalize the science sector and hinder the advancement of scientific technology. To address this issue, an association of basic science researchers is calling for special countermeasures to attract top students to science and engineering-based courses.
The government’s plan to add 2,000 slots to the admissions quota of the country’s 40 medical schools annually has sparked protests from doctors, medical professors, and students. They fear that this increase could have negative effects on medical education and training. However, the association of basic science researchers argues that this quota expansion, combined with a 15 percent cut to the nation’s research and development budget, could seriously impact the advancement of basic science and technology in Korea in both the short and long term.
Without special countermeasures to support basic science, the association warns that Korea may not remain among the ranks of advanced nations in terms of scientific technology within the next 10 to 20 years. They emphasize the importance of consistent support for basic science to achieve the development of advanced technologies. The association is calling on the government to enhance research-related infrastructure and expand support measures, such as covering school and living expenses for all postgraduate students in the field.
In an era where scientific technology is crucial for a nation’s supremacy, it is clear that supporting basic science should be a top priority for policymakers. If
