CEO of BlueCaBorn
There is No Brain Drain
Brain drain in science and engineering fields is not simply caused by the lack of compensation and opportunity. A more significant problem lies in the educational system’s structure and exceptions. Korean students can quickly and reliably find the right answer, but cannot solve new challenges independently. Problem-solving skills are crammed through academies and private tutoring, rather than learned through self-study. In this environment, students develop skills to reduce error rates rather than develop critical thinking skills.
The structure remains largely unchanged even after entering university. Students focus on maintaining good grades and tend to avoid challenging subjects. In a reality where grades are directly linked to evaluation and career paths, “adventurous learning” is considered risky. However, the problem is not solely the students’ responsibility. University professors are also obsessed with research performance over teaching. While teaching well does not make one a scholar, publishing in prestigious journals garners high praise from the university and the government. Consequently, professors leave teaching and practicality as secondary tasks. In this context, the very premise that “Korean science and engineering fields produce excellent talent” is questionable. As a POSTECH alumnus myself, I am skeptical whether POSTECH is truly producing outstanding talent. Nearly 40 years after its founding, I believe POSTECH’s impact on society is small compared to the scale of its investment. An executive I recently met at a corporate site pointed out the same issue to me: “POSTECH is not producing enough excellent talent to compensate for its investment.”
So, how should we view the overseas expansion of talented individuals? I do not view this solely as a “leakage.” Rather, I believe it should be encouraged. Talented individuals raised within Korea’s college entrance system inevitably develop a narrow perspective after spending more than a decade in the homogenous cultural sphere of Seoul. It is a natural and healthy trend for such students to experience different cultures abroad and to grow.
We live in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Individual fields of expertise are converging through artificial intelligence and information technology. Talent in this era is not cultivated within the confines of a single school or country. The process of competing and collaborating abroad is the true training for developing capabilities. And suppose those who thrive on this experience eventually return home with high salaries and capabilities, contributing to Korean society in a new way. In that case, that is a truly desirable talent circulation structure.
Korea’s education and research system must prioritize “creating a climate where talent can thrive” over “retaining talent.” True competitiveness lies in individuals who can independently define problems, are unafraid of making mistakes, and understand and collaborate with other cultures. When such an environment is fostered, going abroad becomes “expansion,” not “outflow.”
What Can We Learn from Korea’s Brain Drain?
(POSTECH Alumna,
Ph.D. student at UC Berkeley)
If you are reading this, you are likely to have access to a privilege that very few students would ever have: studying or working abroad. More and more Koreans, especially bright and ambitious STEM majors, are leaving the country for opportunities abroad. On top of our aging and shrinking population, this could result in less innovation to power our growth for the future.
It is important to note that, fundamentally, international mobility is great because STEM majors inside and outside Korea benefit from each other. Koreans who move abroad form international, professional, and personal connections. For example, Korean professional societies based abroad communicate professional opportunities between the two countries. They benefit from these connections, while also representing Korea abroad as informal ambassadors. The new knowledge, skills, and experiences that they acquire can enrich Korean society when they return home.
Despite these benefits, the problem is that there are more STEM professionals leaving than arriving in Korea. As of 2021, the rate of overseas employment of Korean scientists (2.85%) was higher than the rate of inflow of foreign scientists (2.64%), the magnitude of net outflow ranking 33rd among the 43 countries surveyed.
By tackling the brain drain, we can learn how to make Korea more enticing for both domestic and global talent. Top universities, especially those in the U.S., attract talent not only because they provide higher earning potential after graduation, but also because their students believe that they can grow professionally. In contrast, South Korean university systems can hinder growth and lower research morale through unstable funding based on short-term results, age/credentials valued over skill in hiring, and dimmer prospects for the job market after PhD graduation. Fortunately, POSTECH shows what could be possible to support researchers by focusing on world-class research and collaborations with industry and international institutions. Ultimately, policies that improve professional growth opportunities in South Korea will benefit both Korean and expat researchers.
We should explore ways that expat talent can contribute to Korea’s development. The government could keep databases of Korean professionals living overseas and organize events to systematically maintain these connections. Through regular communication, Korean companies, universities, and the Korean government can learn how to improve Korea’s research climate to help expats re-settle in Korea or reach out internationally to cooperate with key talents abroad.
Now is the golden time for Korea to recruit foreign talent, especially as the current U.S. administration enacts funding cuts to STEM research. People move not only for better pay and working conditions, but also for better lifestyle factors. Many Koreans who moved abroad still love their friends, family, and the country they left behind. With the right policies in STEM research, many expats and foreigners could eagerly contribute to the flourishing of South Korean research.
