• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.001-026
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• 2023

This paper dealt with the Korean manpower policy in science and technology, focusing on the contents and tools of the Special Act and its Master Plans. After briefly introducing the historical development of the Korean manpower policy from the 1960s to the present, it discussed and analyzed the Special Act and Plans from the framework of personnel development, distribution, utilization and infrastructure. Korea's science and technology manpower policy has focused on fostering and supplying manpower in line with the country's industrial growth strategy. In the early stage of industrial development during the 1960s and 1980s, government research institutes were direct and effective tools for nurturing S&T manpower. Since the 1990s, the importance of university research has increased. The government fostered graduate research manpower through the research-oriented university policy of the BK21 program. After the IMF financial crisis in 1997, the tendency of students to avoid careers in science and technology led to enacting the Special Act (2004) governing the field of S&T human resources. The Special Act has contributed to leveling up the university education system in science and engineering and sophisticated the policy to include entrepreneurship training, spin-off startups, industry-university cooperation, and offering degree programs. The Special Act and the regularly revised Master Plans have been essential tools in systematically managing the science and technology manpower policies of the Korean government.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.87-112
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• 2020

Since the 2000s, South Korea has made great efforts to nurture scientists and engineers. In 2004, the Special Act on Supporting Scientists and Engineers for Strengthening National Science and Technology Competitiveness was established to secure scientists and engineers and improve their qualities. This special act has served as a basis for official policies for nurturing and supporting scientific manpower and as a reference for various laws relevant to the issue. However, there is a debate about whether the term ''scientist and engineer'' (이공계 인력) used in this act is appropriate. Thus, this paper critically analyzed the concept of "Scientists and Engineers" from the perspective of inclusiveness, consistency and interconnection. As a result, it is found that interconnectedness is high, as the term is widely used in other laws, but that there is a lack of inclusiveness and consistence. In recent years, those who did not major in science and engineering are employed in jobs related to science and technology, although they would not be counted as ''science and engineering work force'' in the traditional sense of the term. This trend will grow further in the future. In response to these changes, it is necessary to expand or revise the definition of ''scientist and engineer'' to include a broader range of people engaged in science and technology fields (과학기술인).