Selected Speeches
Dr. Chungserved as the President of SNU from 2002 to 2006. These are selected speeches during his presidency.
Keynote Speech for International Conference on Promoting the Science and Technology Manpower and Capability in Korea (May 31, 2004)
HIT: 15178
On the occasion of International Conference on Promoting the Science and Technology Manpower and Capability in Korea
Keynote Speech
President Un-Chan Chung
31 May 2004
I am honored to have this opportunity to share my views today on the critical role of science and technology in the economic growth of Korea. Given the profound social changes and economic challenges Korea is now experiencing, the importance of science and technology is only growing.
Over the past forty years or so, Korea has achieved unprecedented level of economic growth and modernization, transforming itself from a largely agrarian economy into one of the world’s most dynamic capitalist economies. By focusing on education and rapid industrialization, Korea has successfully developed into a technologically advanced society boasting a highly motivated, educated and hardworking work force both at home and abroad.
However, there are now some serious issues that need to be addressed if Korea is to move forward. In light of the revolutionary technological advances that are changing our world, a comprehensive science and technology framework needs to be in place to drive the Korean economy forward in the 21st century. I believe that the university has a vital role to play in this regard.
For years, the Korean government has been positioned at the center of research and development activities, administering both S&T policy and overall development strategy. Since the early 1980s, for example, private corporations in Korea developed their R&D capabilities aggressively with strong government support. They established strong R&D programs as a result. The government also played an important role in establishing the government research institutes, or GRI’s, and in advancing in-house corporate R&D and university research.
The greatest challenge Korea faced in the past was industrialization. The government promoted research that could help the country “catch up” with the rest of the industrialized world. Today, however, Korea is already a noted leader in many areas of science and technology, and its primary goal must be to improve its competitiveness in the global environment. With increasing competition from other countries with efficient management and lower labor costs, the development of S&T that stresses innovation will be critical in order to maintain a competitive edge.
Korea’s rise as an economic dynamo has proved its ability to promote and achieve a very high level of science and technology. Today it needs to re-affirm its commitment to the development of S&T knowledge and manpower in order to open new technological frontiers and ensure continued industrial growth. Nowhere is this need more apparent than in the area of university-based research. Korean universities play a vital role in S&T advancement, not only as institutions for the training of new scientists and engineers, but as centers for cutting-edge research.
Recently, for example, Professors Shin-Yong Moon, Woo-suk Hwang of Seoul National University commanded global attention when they became the first people to cultivate a human embryo successfully by using cloning techniques. Professors Moon & Hwang’s work in stem cell research may ultimately lead to significant breakthroughs in the treatment of diabetes, Parkinson’s syndrome and other diseases. Without the S&T infrastructure of Seoul National University and government support, Professors Moon & Hwang may never have been able to conduct research of this magnitude and achieve so much.
Professors Moon & Hwang’s example is extremely heartening. In general, however, the situation of Korea’s science and engineering graduates is not very promising. A student surplus accumulated over the years has led to a decline in their average starting salaries in comparison with, for example, graduates in medicine or law. The student-faculty ratio in science and technology departments is significantly higher than at universities in the U.S., the U.K, and even Japan. And Korean universities provide fewer resources and less financial support per student.
Understandably, a certain amount of faculty and student dissatisfaction is being voiced. Talented individuals are now seeking careers elsewhere. If Korea cannot recruit its best and brightest to pursue academic and professional careers in science and engineering, its national competitiveness will undoubtedly suffer. The Korean industrial-sector who must compete in a highly competitive global market will be severely disadvantaged.
Of course, market forces have played a role in drawing talent away from science and technology. However, government human resource planning is also partly to blame. If this situation is not remedied with bold S&T initiatives across both the public and private sectors, then Korea could potentially see a further decline in job opportunities for new graduates, and a decrease of employment stability for experienced S&T employees. Ultimately, we will end up with an environment inimical to investment and growth.
Today we need to transform S&T infrastructure in Korea into a system that is based on and rewards innovation. For this strategy to succeed, however, the government-led S&T infrastructure must itself undergo a transformation. Due to greater level of sophistication in industry and the rapid growth of R&D capabilities in the private sector, government-led S&T development is no longer an effective or efficient model. (Its inefficiency has resulted in certain R&D limitations, which in turn have meant that science and technology in Korea has a high-level of input but a relatively low level of productivity and output.) Accordingly, the public sector should now focus on upgrading the R&D areas that have not been sufficiently addressed by the private sector. In addition, we need to complement these efforts with a collaborative mechanism allowing industrial laboratories and university research facilities to grow together. With these elements in place, the development of core technologies will proceed unhindered.
The successes that can be achieved when industries are able to capitalize effectively on research done in conjunction with universities have been highlighted in recent years by events in the U.S. Corporate ‘incubators’ at universities such as Stanford have now become a model for the new economy. And, in a move to provide greater incentives for professors and graduate students to develop new technologies, government-funded universities have been allowed to establish patent agencies since 2002. Universities can now set up special agencies to handle applications for domestic and overseas patents, for registration and distribution of subsequent profits.
MIT is a case in point. The MIT Commission on Industrial Productivity has called for changes in universities so that students are educated with a stronger focus on productivity, teamwork and the downstream phases of product and process engineering. Today a MIT professor receives one-third of the licensing income from a patent acquired through his or her research program. Another one-third of the licensing income is earmarked for improving departmental research facilities. Patent income (through licensing fees) can be shared between the faculty and the university, adding a potent monetary incentive to the performance-reward system.
At Korean universities, on the other hand, there is a comparatively low level of support for basic research and as a result industrial progress is being impeded if not compromised. This is a serious issue, as the quality of basic research often determines the future of science and technology in industry. Around the world, we are witnessing a shorter time span in product development--that is, from scientific discovery to economic application. In Korea, it is more important than ever before to ensure that the latest research is readily accessible to and in harmony with industry.
Today, Korea is once again at a crossroads. However, I strongly believe that the road ahead is marked not so much by uncertainty as by genuine opportunity. Korea needs to harness, nurture and enhance its capabilities if it is to move forward and succeed on a global scale in the areas of science and technology. This will require the establishment of sound S&T policy, a comprehensive and coherent development strategy, and an objective assessment of the nation’s S&T manpower. I believe that the university has a critical role to play in all three areas if Korea is to rise to its new challenges and emerge as a leader in scientific and technological innovation.
Thank you very much.
Keynote Speech
President Un-Chan Chung
31 May 2004
I am honored to have this opportunity to share my views today on the critical role of science and technology in the economic growth of Korea. Given the profound social changes and economic challenges Korea is now experiencing, the importance of science and technology is only growing.
Over the past forty years or so, Korea has achieved unprecedented level of economic growth and modernization, transforming itself from a largely agrarian economy into one of the world’s most dynamic capitalist economies. By focusing on education and rapid industrialization, Korea has successfully developed into a technologically advanced society boasting a highly motivated, educated and hardworking work force both at home and abroad.
However, there are now some serious issues that need to be addressed if Korea is to move forward. In light of the revolutionary technological advances that are changing our world, a comprehensive science and technology framework needs to be in place to drive the Korean economy forward in the 21st century. I believe that the university has a vital role to play in this regard.
For years, the Korean government has been positioned at the center of research and development activities, administering both S&T policy and overall development strategy. Since the early 1980s, for example, private corporations in Korea developed their R&D capabilities aggressively with strong government support. They established strong R&D programs as a result. The government also played an important role in establishing the government research institutes, or GRI’s, and in advancing in-house corporate R&D and university research.
The greatest challenge Korea faced in the past was industrialization. The government promoted research that could help the country “catch up” with the rest of the industrialized world. Today, however, Korea is already a noted leader in many areas of science and technology, and its primary goal must be to improve its competitiveness in the global environment. With increasing competition from other countries with efficient management and lower labor costs, the development of S&T that stresses innovation will be critical in order to maintain a competitive edge.
Korea’s rise as an economic dynamo has proved its ability to promote and achieve a very high level of science and technology. Today it needs to re-affirm its commitment to the development of S&T knowledge and manpower in order to open new technological frontiers and ensure continued industrial growth. Nowhere is this need more apparent than in the area of university-based research. Korean universities play a vital role in S&T advancement, not only as institutions for the training of new scientists and engineers, but as centers for cutting-edge research.
Recently, for example, Professors Shin-Yong Moon, Woo-suk Hwang of Seoul National University commanded global attention when they became the first people to cultivate a human embryo successfully by using cloning techniques. Professors Moon & Hwang’s work in stem cell research may ultimately lead to significant breakthroughs in the treatment of diabetes, Parkinson’s syndrome and other diseases. Without the S&T infrastructure of Seoul National University and government support, Professors Moon & Hwang may never have been able to conduct research of this magnitude and achieve so much.
Professors Moon & Hwang’s example is extremely heartening. In general, however, the situation of Korea’s science and engineering graduates is not very promising. A student surplus accumulated over the years has led to a decline in their average starting salaries in comparison with, for example, graduates in medicine or law. The student-faculty ratio in science and technology departments is significantly higher than at universities in the U.S., the U.K, and even Japan. And Korean universities provide fewer resources and less financial support per student.
Understandably, a certain amount of faculty and student dissatisfaction is being voiced. Talented individuals are now seeking careers elsewhere. If Korea cannot recruit its best and brightest to pursue academic and professional careers in science and engineering, its national competitiveness will undoubtedly suffer. The Korean industrial-sector who must compete in a highly competitive global market will be severely disadvantaged.
Of course, market forces have played a role in drawing talent away from science and technology. However, government human resource planning is also partly to blame. If this situation is not remedied with bold S&T initiatives across both the public and private sectors, then Korea could potentially see a further decline in job opportunities for new graduates, and a decrease of employment stability for experienced S&T employees. Ultimately, we will end up with an environment inimical to investment and growth.
Today we need to transform S&T infrastructure in Korea into a system that is based on and rewards innovation. For this strategy to succeed, however, the government-led S&T infrastructure must itself undergo a transformation. Due to greater level of sophistication in industry and the rapid growth of R&D capabilities in the private sector, government-led S&T development is no longer an effective or efficient model. (Its inefficiency has resulted in certain R&D limitations, which in turn have meant that science and technology in Korea has a high-level of input but a relatively low level of productivity and output.) Accordingly, the public sector should now focus on upgrading the R&D areas that have not been sufficiently addressed by the private sector. In addition, we need to complement these efforts with a collaborative mechanism allowing industrial laboratories and university research facilities to grow together. With these elements in place, the development of core technologies will proceed unhindered.
The successes that can be achieved when industries are able to capitalize effectively on research done in conjunction with universities have been highlighted in recent years by events in the U.S. Corporate ‘incubators’ at universities such as Stanford have now become a model for the new economy. And, in a move to provide greater incentives for professors and graduate students to develop new technologies, government-funded universities have been allowed to establish patent agencies since 2002. Universities can now set up special agencies to handle applications for domestic and overseas patents, for registration and distribution of subsequent profits.
MIT is a case in point. The MIT Commission on Industrial Productivity has called for changes in universities so that students are educated with a stronger focus on productivity, teamwork and the downstream phases of product and process engineering. Today a MIT professor receives one-third of the licensing income from a patent acquired through his or her research program. Another one-third of the licensing income is earmarked for improving departmental research facilities. Patent income (through licensing fees) can be shared between the faculty and the university, adding a potent monetary incentive to the performance-reward system.
At Korean universities, on the other hand, there is a comparatively low level of support for basic research and as a result industrial progress is being impeded if not compromised. This is a serious issue, as the quality of basic research often determines the future of science and technology in industry. Around the world, we are witnessing a shorter time span in product development--that is, from scientific discovery to economic application. In Korea, it is more important than ever before to ensure that the latest research is readily accessible to and in harmony with industry.
Today, Korea is once again at a crossroads. However, I strongly believe that the road ahead is marked not so much by uncertainty as by genuine opportunity. Korea needs to harness, nurture and enhance its capabilities if it is to move forward and succeed on a global scale in the areas of science and technology. This will require the establishment of sound S&T policy, a comprehensive and coherent development strategy, and an objective assessment of the nation’s S&T manpower. I believe that the university has a critical role to play in all three areas if Korea is to rise to its new challenges and emerge as a leader in scientific and technological innovation.
Thank you very much.