South Korea to Invest ₩300 Billion to Recruit Top AI Researchers (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, June 16 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea is intensifying efforts to secure global leadership in artificial intelligence by investing ₩300 billion (approximately $220 million) over the next five years to recruit 400 elite postdoctoral researchers in AI convergence fields.
Announced on Sunday by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the country’s four premier science and technology institutes, the initiative—dubbed the “InnoCore Research Program”—seeks to bolster domestic AI research capabilities and nurture a new generation of top-tier scientists.
Each postdoctoral researcher will receive an annual salary of ₩90 million (about $66,000), alongside ₩60 million in individual research funding. Additional financial support through industry collaborations and matched research grants is also planned, as the government aims to make domestic offers competitive with overseas opportunities.
The program’s urgency is underscored by the allocation of ₩30 billion in a 2025 supplementary budget, with the remaining funding spread over the next five years. The initiative is designed not only to grow South Korea’s AI expertise but also to accelerate the application of AI across key sectors such as manufacturing, biotechnology, and energy.
Eight AI convergence labs have been selected across the country’s four science and technology institutes. These labs will operate as open research clusters, bringing together domestic and international partners from academia, industry, and public research institutions. Participating mentors will help postdocs transition into roles within government-funded labs and private enterprises.
Recruitment efforts are going global. This month, South Korean science officials will host overseas information sessions in key U.S. innovation hubs—starting June 18 in Boston, followed by events in New York and Silicon Valley.
The government is also launching a targeted outreach campaign via LinkedIn, scientific journals such as Nature and Science, and Korean diaspora networks including KOSEN and Korean Scientists and Engineers Associations.
While the initiative has been welcomed by the scientific community, some experts have expressed concerns that the compensation package may not be competitive enough to attract top-tier international talent.
“PhD-level researchers in AI convergence are now considered strategic national assets worldwide,” said Lee Chang-yoon, First Vice Minister of Science and ICT. “Through InnoCore, we hope to provide a launchpad for Korea’s young scientists to become global research leaders—and to position our country as a compelling destination for AI researchers at home and abroad.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
