Int’l Seminar on Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy
The Korean High-Level Human Resourses
Development Strategy and
The Construction of Research Capacities
April 14, 2008
Prof. Se-Jung Oh
Dean, College of Natural Science
Seoul National University
Republic of Korea
Contents
1. Development of Korean Economy and its Current
Situation
2. Evolution of Korean National Innovation System
3. Progress of the Korean Human Resources
Development Strategy (especially on Doctorate
Level)
4. Summary and Concluding Remarks
2
1. Development of Korean Economy and
its Current Situation
3
Rapid Development of Korean Economy
 GNP per capita of Korea
• Year 1953: $ 67/ yr
 was one of the poorest countries in the world
• Year 2006: $ 18,372 & Year 2007: $ 20,050
[ GNP per capita (1953 ~ 2006), nominal US $ ]
20,000
18,000
Asian Currency Crisis
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
20
05
20
03
20
01
19
99
19
97
19
95
19
93
19
91
19
89
19
87
19
85
19
83
19
81
19
79
19
77
19
75
19
73
19
71
19
69
19
67
19
65
19
63
19
61
19
59
19
57
19
55
19
53
0
Source : The Bank of Korea, http://ecos.bok.or.kr
4
Current Achievements of Korean Economy
 Semiconductor
• Dramatic achievement since 1981
10.7 % of global market share(’05)
Ranked 3 rd following by U.S. and Japan (’06)
• Focused on DRAM memory market
Prowess in process technology
45.1 % of global market share(’06) (ranked 1st since 1992)
Samsumg Electronics (29 %), Hynix (16 %)
 Steel Industry
• Current position of Korean Steel industry
Ranked 5th (‘06) in production /year
Ranked 6th (’06) in export
POSCO ranked 5th, INI Steel Co. ranked 28th in production capa
5
Current Achievements of Korean Economy (Cont.)
 Shipbuilding
• Since 2004, Korea has been leading the industry
Korea (33.6%), Japan (32.2%), China (12.5%) (’04) by CGT
(Compensated Gross Tonnage)
• Main products : LNG carrier, large-containership, oil tanker, FPSO
(floating production storage offloading)
Japan, China : oil tanker, bulk carrier
 Display Products
• Global market share of the LCD market (’07)
Samsung Electronics(22.9%, rank 1st), LG Display(20.4%, rank 2nd)
• Global market share of the PDP market (’07)
Samsung SDI(27.0%, rank 2nd), LG Electronics(26.0%, rank 3rd)
 Automobile
• 5th in the world after U.S., Japan, China, Germany (’06)
6
2. Evolution of the Korean National Innovation System
7
Korean National Innovation System - Input
 R&D Expenditure and Number of Researchers per Year
1969
1980
1990
2000
2006
9.8
211.7
3,210.5
13,848.5
27,345.7
- Public
7.2
(73%)
105.5
(50%)
510.8
(16%)
3,816.9
(28%)
6,632.1
(24%)
- Private
1.8
(18%)
102.4
(48%)
2,698.9
(84%)
10,023.4
(72%)
20,631.3
(75%)
- Foreign
0.8
(8%)
3.8
(2%)
0.8
(0%)
8.2
(0%)
82.3
(0%)
Number of researchers
5,337
18,434
70,503
159,973
256,598
- Government Research
Institutes (GRI’s)
2,413
(45%)
4,598
(25%)
10,434
(15%)
13,913
(9%)
16,771
(7%)
- University
2,142
(40%)
8,695
(47%)
21,332
(30%)
51,727
(32%)
65,923
(26%)
- Private Industry
782
(15%)
5,141
(28%)
38,737
(55%)
94,333
(59%)
173,904
(68%)
R&D expenditure (B won)
8
Korean National Innovation System - Output
 S&T Competitiveness, Patent, & SCI Papers
1998
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
35th
37th
35th
29th
38th
29th
- Science
28th
16th
19th
15th
12th
7th
- Technology
n.a.
27th
8th
2nd
6th
6th
35,900
30,525
35,284
53,419
n.a.
n.a.
-
2,949
(8th)
3,558
(7th)
4,688
(6th)
5,935
(5th)
n.a.
Number of SCI Paper
9,843
(16th)
18,830
(14th)
19,328
(14th)
23,089
(14th)
23,286
(13th)
n.a.
- Average Citation
Number
1.88
(34th)
2.63
(30th)
2.8
(29th)
3.04
(30th)
3.22
(28th)
n.a.
Rank of National
Competitiveness
1)
Number of Patent
Registration 2)
- International Patent
Application 3)
IMD (International Institute for Management Development)
(World Intellectual Property Organization)
3) PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty)
1)
2) WIPO
9
Roles of the Korean Innovation Actors
 Government
• Development of Science & Technology Infrastructure
• Established Korea Institute of Science & Technology (KIST) in 1966
Established several GRIs as spin-offs from KIST in 70s and early 80s
Created Daedeok Science Town in 1978
Established Korea Advanced Institute of Science (KAIS) in 1971
• Direct R&D support to Universities and GRIs
• Preferential finance and tax concessions for Industry R&D
 University
• The rapid expansion of S&T human resource education
• Used to be more teaching-oriented than research-oriented in the past
• But recently emphasize basic & applied research and high-level human
resource development (Doctorate level)
10
Role of the Korean Innovation Actors (Cont’d)
 Government Research Institutes (GRI’s)
• Important role in industrial R&D in ‘60s and ‘70s
Helped firms to acquire foreign technology
Informally diffused technology thru reverse-engineering
Supplied experienced researchers for Industry
• Joint research & development with large firms
• Acts as the backbone of national R&D
 Private Sectors
• Large firms established corporate R&D centers in the 1980s
Samsung, LG, Hyundai, and SK group, etc.
• SMEs started R&D activities rather slowly
11
Progress of Korean National Innovation System
Stage
1960s ~ 1970s
1980s
1990s
2000 ~ 2007
• $82 ~ $1,676
• $1,645 ~ $ 5,418
• $6,417 ~ $9,438
• $10,804 ~ $20,050
• Agriculture and
Labor-intensive
industry (Textile,
Shoes, etc)
• heavy industry
(Steel, Auto,
Chemicals ,etc)
• Electronic and IT
products
(Electric Appliances,
Semiconductor etc)
• IT products and
others
(Semiconductor,
LCD, Auto, etc)
R & D Focus
• Imitation of mature
foreign
technologies
• Imitation of mature,
• Expansion of public
advanced foreign
R&D
technologies
• Development of
growth engine
technologies
Domestic R & D
Situation
• Inadequacy of
university &
industry research
• Reliance on GRI’s
• Expansion of
industry &
university
research
• Foundation of industry-led system
• Expansion of university research
Government
Policy on R & D
and Human
Resource
Development
• Established KIST
(1966) and other
GRI’s
• Established KAIS
(1973)
• Expansion of
University System
• Rapid growth of
Graduate Schools
• Emphasis on the
Quality of Graduate
Education and
Research
• Globalization of
University
• Foster Top-quality
Research Univ.
HRD Policy on
Doctorate Level
• Import from
foreign countries
• Import as well as
Domestic Training
• Foreign Training of
Domestic Doctors
• Assimilation in the
Global Market
Per Capita GNP
Major Industry
12
3. Progress of the Korean Human Development
Strategy (especially on Doctorate Level)
13
Korean HRD Policies in 1960’s
 Environments/Backgrounds
• Per Capita GNP : $82 (’60) → $210 (’69)
• Main Industry : Agriculture and Labor-intensive Industry (textile)
• R & D focus : Imitation of Mature Foreign Technologies
 Government Actions
• Established the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)
in 1966 (1st Government Research Institute)
• Established the Ministry of Science and Technology at the cabinet
level (1967)
• Emphasized training of technicians in high schools and 2-year
colleges
• Started Recruiting Program for Korean Scientists (Doctorate Level)
working in Foreign Countries (1968)
Total of 29 Ph.D’s in Science and Engineering fields returned to
Korea from abroad in ’68-’69
14
Korean HRD Policies in 1960’s (Cont’d)
 Situation of Higher-Education (Universities and
Graduate Schools)
• Focused more on Undergraduate Education than Research in
general
• Research capability of universities was inadequate
• But the number of 4-year Universities was increased from 48(’62) to
68 (’69)
The number of graduate schools was increased from 25 (’62) to 60
(’69)
• Manpower production in Science and Engineering fields was small
In 1969, only 4,863 bachelors, 301 masters and 35 Ph.D’s were
produced altogether from Korean universities
 The number of Students going abroad to study Science
and Engineering fields increased from ~ 400 (’60) to ~
600 (’69)
15
Korean HRD Policies in 1970’s
 Environments/Backgrounds
• Per Capita GNP : $254 (’70) → $1,676 (’79)
• Main Industry : Light Industry (textile, shoes, etc) and some
chemical industry
• R & D focus : Imitation of Mature Foreign Technologies
 Government Actions
• Established the Korea Advanced Institute of Science (KAIS) in 1971
(US-style Graduate school in Science and Engineering Fields)
• Established several GRI’s (Atomic Energy, National Standards,
Ocean Research)
• Established the Korean Science and Engineering Foundation
(KOSEF) to support basic research in universities (1977)
• Expanded manpower training in engineering schools, especially in
electrical, mechanical and chemical engineering departments
16
Korean HRD Policies in 1970’s (Cont’d)
• Started national scholarship program for sending students abroad for the
graduate study (1977)
Until 2001, altogether 1,717 students received this national scholarship,
mostly in science and engineering fields.
• Actively pursued Recruiting Program for Korean Scientists (Doctorate
Level) working in Foreign Countries
Total of 454 Ph.D’s in Science and Engineering fields returned to Korea from
abroad in ’70-’79
 Situation of Higher-Education (Universities and Graduate Schools)
• Rapid Expansion of Students in Science and Engineering fields both in
undergraduate and graduate levels (see Fig.1)
• However, Research capability of most universities was still quite limited,
except KAIS which received special government support
 The number of Students going abroad to study Science and
Engineering fields also increased quite rapidly from ~ 600 (’70) to ~
1,200 (’79)
17
Fig 1. Production of Bachelors in S&E fields from Domestic Universities in 1970's
12000
10000
8000
6000
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
4000
2000
0
1970
1971
1972
1973 1974
B.S. in Science fields
1975
1976 1977
1978
1979
1980
B.S. in Engineering fields
18
Fig 2. Production of Masters and Ph.D's in S&E fields from Domestic Universities in 1970's
800
700
600
500
400
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
300
200
100
0
1970
1971
1972
M.S. (Science)
1973
1974
Ph.D (Science)
1975
1976
M.S. (Engineering)
1977
1978
1979
1980
Ph.D (Engineering)
19
Korean HRD Policies in 1980’s
 Environments/Backgrounds
• Per Capita GNP : $1,645 (’80) → $5,418 (’89)
• Main Industry : Heavy Industry (Steel, Auto, Ship-building, Chemicals, etc)
• R & D focus : Imitation of Mature, Advanced Foreign Technologies
 Government Actions
• Established several more GRI’s (Machinery and Materials, Electronics and
Telecommunications, Geology, etc) in 1981
• Established Pohang University of Science and Technology (by POSCO, a
steel company) in 1986
• Established Basic Science Promotion Law and Korea Basic Science
Institute in 1988
• Established four Science High Schools for Gifted Students (’83, ’84)
• Introduced the military-duty exemption system for science and
engineering students and researchers (1981)
• Expanded 4-year colleges and universities greatly, especially in science
and engineering fields, while reducing government support for vocational
schools training technicians
20
Korean HRD Policies in 1980’s (Cont’d)
• Started post-doc training program in foreign countries for Ph.D’s who
obtained degree in science and engineering fields from domestic
universities (KOSEF, 1982)
On the average, 50 – 200 post-doc’s were trained in foreign countries every
year
• Started “Brain-Pool” program inviting foreign experts to Korea
permanently or for a limited time (KOSEF, 1982)
On the average, about 100 foreign Ph.D’s visited Korea every year utilizing
this program
 Situation of Higher-Education (Universities and Graduate Schools)
• Rapid Expansion of Students in Science and Engineering fields both in
undergraduate and graduate levels (see Fig.3)
• Research capability of several universities were also greatly improved
during this period
• The number of Masters and Ph.D’s in Science and Engineering fields
produced from domestic universities increased quite rapidly (see Fig.4)
 The number of Students going abroad to study Science and
Engineering fields also increased quite rapidly (see Fig.5)
21
Fig 3. Production of Bachelors in S&E fields from Domestic Universities in 1980's
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
10000
5000
0
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
B.S. in Science
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
B.S. in Engineering
22
Fig 4. Production of Masters and Ph.D's in S & E fields from Domestic Universities in 1980's
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
1500
1000
500
0
1980
1981
1982
M .S. (Science)
1983
1984
Ph.D (Science)
1985
1986
1987
M .S. (Engineering)
1988
1989
1990
Ph.D (Engineering)
23
Fig 5. Number of Students studying abroad in Science and
Engineering Fields
140000
120000
100000
80000
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
60000
40000
20000
0
1981
1984
1987
1990
1993
1996
1999
계열2
24
Korean HRD Policies in 1990’s
 Environments/Backgrounds
• Per Capita GNP : $6,147 (’90) → $9,438 (’99)
• Main Industry : Electronic and IT Products (Electrical Appliances,
Semiconductors, Computers), and others (Auto, Ship-building, etc)
• R & D focus : Develop Advanced Technologies
• R&D activities of private industries were greatly increased (see Fig.6)
• Demand for Ph.D was greatly increased (see Fig.7)
 Government Actions
• Established Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in 1993
• Enacted “Special Law for Promotion of Science and Technology” in 1997
• Established Korea Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) and
National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK) in 1994
• Expanded graduate schools greatly, especially in science and engineering
fields
• Special Government Program to support Engineering Schools (’94-98)
• Special Government Program to support Graduate schools in science and
engineering fields (1995-2000)
• Started evaluation system of universities for education and research (1992)
• Started Science/engineering Research Centers (SRC/ERC) in universities
(supported group of professors with good research record for 9 years) in
1990 (KOSEF)
25
Fig 6. Trend in the working sectors of Korean researchers
180000
160000
140000
120000
100000
80000
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
60000
40000
20000
0
1976
1981
1986
GRI
1991
University
1996
Industry
26
Fig 7. Trend in the composition of Korean researchers
180000
160000
140000
120000
100000
80000
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
60000
40000
20000
0
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
Ph.D Master
1996
Bachelor
1997
1998
1999
2000
Others
27
Korean HRD Policies in 1990’s (Cont’d)
• Exemption of military-duty for science and engineering doctoral students
and researchers
• Continued post-doc training program in foreign countries for Ph.D’s who
obtained degree in science and engineering fields from domestic
universities (KOSEF)
On the average, 200 – 300 post-doc’s were trained in foreign countries
every year
• Continued “Brain-Pool” program inviting foreign experts to Korea
permanently or for a limited time (KOSEF)
On the average, about 100 foreign Ph.D’s visited Korea every year utilizing
this program
 Situation of Higher-Education (Universities and Graduate Schools)
• Slight increase of Students in Science and Engineering fields in
undergraduate level (see Fig. 8)
• More Rapid increase of Graduate students in science and engineering
fields (see Fig.9)
• Research capability of universities were also greatly improved during this
period (see Fig.10)
 The number of Students going abroad to study Science and
Engineering fields also increased rapidly (see Figure 5)
28
Fig 8. Production of Bachelors in S&E fields from Domestic Universities in 1990's
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
10000
0
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
B.S. in Science
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
B.S. in Engineering
29
Fig 9. Production of Masters and Ph.D's in S & E fields from Domestic Universities in 1990's
12000
10000
8000
6000
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
4000
2000
0
1990
1991
1992
M.S. (Science)
1993
1994
Ph.D (Science)
1995
1996
M.S. (Engineering)
1997
1998
1999
Ph.D (Engineering)
30
31
Korean HRD Policies in 2000’s
 Environments/Backgrounds
• Per Capita GNP : $10,804 (’00) → $20,050 (’07)
• Main Industry : IT Products (Semiconductors, Cellular phones, LCD), and
others (Auto, Ship-building, etc)
• R & D focus : Develop Cutting-edge Technologies
• University R & D capabilities were greatly improved (see Fig. 11, Fig. 12)
 Government Actions
• Started “Brain Korea 21” project to create world-class research universities
(1st phase :1999 – 2005, 2nd phase : 2006 -2012). This project supports
graduate students tuition and stipend, especially in science and
engineering fields.
• Emphasized “Quality” of graduate education and academic research
• Emphasized “Globalization” in the university education and research
• Started “Creative Research Initiative”, which supports ~ 1 million USD
annually to young and creative researchers up to 9 years
• Strengthen evaluation system of universities, both in education and
research
32
Fig. 11 Number of SCI papers produced in Korea
2. 50
2.08
2.03
2. 00
1.71
1. 50
1. 00
1.13
0.96
0. 50
국가별논문수합계기준세계점유율(% )
0. 00
1997
1998
2002
2005
2006
33
Fig. 12 Top 40 Universities in the World in the Number of SCI Publications (Year 2006)
순위
대학명
논문수
순위
10,200
11
논문수
순위
JOHNS-HOPKINSUNIV
4,718
21
대학명
대학명
논문수
논문수
순위
UNIV-CAMBRIDGE
4,193
31
OHIO-STATE-UNIV
3,674
대학명
1
HARVARD-UNIV
2
UNIV-TOKYO
6,768
12
UNIV-MINNESOTAMINNEAPOLIS
4,452
22
UNIV-CALIF-SANFRANCISCO
4,185
32
SEOUL-NATL-UNIV
3,635
3
UNIV-CALIF-LOSANGELES
5,864
13
UNIV-CALIF-SANDIEGO
4,445
23
COLUMBIA-UNIV
4,117
33
UNIV-SAO-PAULO
3,620
4
UNIV-TORONTO
5,710
14
UNIV-PITTSBURGH
4,425
24
DUKE-UNIV
4,059
34
UNIV-BRITISHCOLUMBIA
5
UNIV-MICHIGAN,
ANN-ARBOR
5,686
15
OSAKA-UNIV
4,339
25
TOHOKU-UNIV
3,991
35
MCGILL-UNIV
3,429
6
UNIV-WASHINGTON5,686
SEATLE
16
UNIV-WISCONSINMADISON
4,329
26
UNIV-OXFORD
3,991
36
PENN-STATE-UNIVUNIV-PARK
3,338
3,936
37
NORTHWESTERN-UNIV3,328
3519
7
UNIV-ILLINOIS
5,170
17
UNIV-CALIF-DAVIS
4,268
27
UNIV-LONDONIMPERIAL-COLLSCI-TECHNOL-&MED*
8
STANFORD-UNIV
5,017
18
UNIV-CALIFBERKELEY*
4,261
28
YALE-UNIV
3,901
38
WASHINGTON-UNIV3,324
ST-LOUIS
9
KYOTO-UNIV*
4,954
19
UNIV-FLORIDA
4,217
29
UNIV-CAROLINACHAPELMINNEAPOLIC
3,853
39
UNIV-COLL-LONDON
UNIV-PENN
4,823
20
CORNELL-UNIV
4,199
30
MIT
3,728
40
UNIV-ILLINOIS3,030
URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
10
3,189
34
Korean HRD Policies in 2000’s (Cont’d)
• Exemption of military-duty for science and engineering doctoral students
and researchers
• Continued post-doc training program in foreign countries for Ph.D’s who
obtained degree in science and engineering fields from domestic
universities (KOSEF)
On the average, 200 – 300 post-doc’s were trained in foreign countries
every year
• Continued “Brain-Pool” program inviting foreign experts to Korea
permanently or for a limited time (KOSEF)
On the average, about 100 foreign Ph.D’s visited Korea every year utilizing
this program
 Situation of Higher-Education (Universities and Graduate Schools)
• The number of Students in Science and Engineering fields in
undergraduate level stays almost constant in the last 5 years (see Fig. 13)
• Graduate students in science and engineering fields also maintained
about the same level (see Fig.14)
• Research capability of universities continued to improve during this
period
 The number of Students going abroad to study somewhat
increased
35
Fig 13. Production of Bachelors in S&E fields from Domestic Universities in 2000's
80000
70000
60000
50000
Figure 3 and 4
40000
30000
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
20000
10000
0
2000
2001
2002
B.S. in Science
2003
2004
2005
2006
B.S. in Engineering
36
Fig 14. Production of Masters and Ph.D's in S & E fields from Domestic Universities in 2000‘s
16000
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
4000
2000
0
2000
2001
M.S. (Science)
2002
Ph.D (Science)
2003
2004
M.S. (Engineering)
2005
2006
Ph.D (Engineering)
37
4. Summary and Concluding Remarks
38
Summary and Concluding Remarks
 Korea relied on foreign universities for training Ph.D’s until around
~1980
• Actively recruited Korean Ph.D’s trained in foreign countries to set up
research capabilities of government laboratories and universities
• Established government research institutes (GRI’s) to concentrate the
limited manpower and research fund, instead of distributing them to
many universities
• These GRI’s performed most of R $ D in Korea, and helped industries to
catch up with advanced technology of foreign countries
 Korean government expanded domestic graduate schools and
actively supported their research from ~1980
• Korean government introduced many measures such as the exemption of
military duty for graduate students in domestic universities
• Established grant systems to university professors to encourage research
and the training of high level manpower
• Domestic universities started to produce increasing number of Ph.D’s in
science and engineering fields in response to the need of private industry
• However, the number of students studying abroad also increased
somewhat, and Kroean government and industry maintained recruiting
program for Korean scientists and engineers (Doctorate Level) trained in
foreign countries
39
Thank you
for your attention !
Se-Jung Oh, Ph. D.
Tel. +82-2-880-6500
E-mail: sjoh@snu.ac.kr
40