Summary of "[MBC 탐사기획 스트레이트 317회] 밝혀진 'R&D 삭감' 전말 | 스트레이트 317회 (25.11.2)"

Investigation into South Korea’s 2024 R&D Budget Cuts

The investigative report from MBC’s Straight episode 317 exposes the controversial and unprecedented cuts to South Korea’s national research and development (R&D) budget under President Yoon Seong-yeol’s administration. Despite initial promises of full support for young scientists and basic research, the government abruptly slashed the 2024 R&D budget by approximately 4.6 trillion won—the first such cut in 33 years. This drastic reduction disrupted ongoing research projects, halted technological development, and forced many young researchers to abandon their work or seek opportunities abroad.

Key Findings and Points

Budget Cut Process and Political Context

The cuts originated from a directive by President Yoon and his economic chief, Choi Sang-mok, who ordered a complete reexamination of the R&D budget.
Initially, the Ministry of Science and ICT planned a 2% increase to 25.4 trillion won.
The budget was ultimately slashed to about 21.5 trillion won for core R&D, with some proposals demanding cuts down to 10 trillion won.
The President and his office viewed basic research negatively, perceiving it as a “cartel” distributing funds to vested interests without clear results.
This perspective was reinforced by a political agenda aimed at dismantling such “vested interest cartels” across society.

Internal Opposition and Warnings Ignored

Officials from the Ministry of Science and ICT repeatedly warned about the severe consequences of the cuts, including:
- Dissolution of major research institutes
- Damage to the university research ecosystem
- Loss of funding for mid-career researchers
Minister Lee Jong-woo personally appealed to President Yoon via a detailed text message highlighting these concerns but was met with silence or anger.

Shift Toward Global R&D Cooperation

Concurrently, the government emphasized increasing the budget for global R&D and international cooperation, especially with the United States.
This shift followed President Yoon’s visit to the U.S. and the Korea-U.S. summit.
While domestic basic research budgets were cut, funding for global R&D projects increased by over 1 trillion won.

Impact on Research and Researchers

Numerous projects were halted, including:
- A children’s school bus safety research program
- Advanced technology development projects, some nearly complete
Equipment worth billions of won was left unused.
Young scientists faced financial hardship, with many forced to take part-time jobs or leave the country.
An astrophysicist lost his contract and accepted a research position in China, citing a lack of hope in Korea’s basic science environment.
Graduate students reported anxiety and instability due to uncertain funding.

Broader Implications

The budget cuts were rushed and lacked sufficient communication with the scientific community, damaging trust and the research ecosystem.
Previous economic crises did not lead to cuts in R&D, underscoring the unusual severity of the current reductions.
The episode concludes with a reflection on South Korea’s vulnerable basic science sector, especially in contrast to countries like Japan, which continue to produce Nobel laureates due to stable investment in science.

Presenters and Contributors

Minister Lee Jong-woo (Ministry of Science and ICT)
Joo Young-chang (Former head of Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters)
Jeong Ui-kwon (Coordinator for Science, Technology and Innovation)
Choi Sang-mok (Former Senior Secretary to the President for Economic Affairs)
Park Chan (Astrophysicist, Korea Institute for Basic Science)
Yang Ji-su (KAIST Master’s student)
Researcher Kim (Aircraft engine and mechanical power generation research)
MBC Straight investigative team (reporters and production)