South Korea is attracting more foreign Ph.D. graduates in science, engineering and medicine than ever, but many face serious challenges in finding stable jobs and earning competitive wages, a new report from the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training revealed.
The number of foreign Ph.D. graduates in STEM and medical fields has grown significantly, rising from 4.9 percent in 2010 to 12.5 percent in 2023. Many of these researchers hope to stay in Korea -- 45.7 percent of foreign STEM Ph.D.s plan to remain, compared to just 14.8 percent of foreign Ph.D.s in other fields. However, poor job prospects and financial hurdles are making long-term settlement difficult.
According to the report, only 48.9 percent of foreign STEM Ph.D.s in Korea secured employment, compared to 58.3 percent of domestic graduates. For those who did find jobs, the vast majority -- 73.1 percent -- ended up in postdoctoral research positions, which are typically temporary, low-paying and offer limited career progression. In contrast, only 43.7 percent of Korean Ph.D.s followed the same path.
The income gap showed the highest disparity, with only 7.8 percent of foreign Ph.D.s earning more than 50 million won (about $34,500) annually, compared to 42.7 percent of Korean Ph.D.s.
“Most foreign Ph.D.s in STEM and medical fields work as postdoctoral researchers with relatively low wages. If South Korea is serious about retaining top talent, we must improve their working conditions and provide real career opportunities,” said KRIVET researcher Jang Kwang-nam.
Financial struggles begin early. Foreign Ph.D. students receiving scholarships declined from 83.1 percent in 2017 to 71.2 percent in 2023, while self-funded tuition costs nearly doubled from 13.2 percent to 24.4 percent. At the same time, foreign Ph.D.s have fewer opportunities to gain critical research experience, completing an average of 2.72 projects over seven years, compared to 5.72 projects for Korean Ph.D.s. This lack of experience further weakens their competitiveness in the job market.
Despite these challenges, Korea increasingly relies on foreign Ph.D.s to fill gaps in its tech and research workforce. In recent years, the percentage of foreign STEM Ph.D.s securing jobs in Korea has risen, from 45.0 percent in 2020 to over 50 percent since 2021.
mjh@heraldcorp.com
