Secretary I Ju-han of the Presidential Office: 100% Guarantee of Personnel Costs for Affiliated Research Institutes Next Year

During a policy meeting on October 24, I Ju-han, the presidential office's science and technology research secretary, announced that affiliated research institutes will fully guarantee personnel costs starting next year. He also mentioned that salary increase proposals have been placed on the table for discussion with the finance ministry, with the specific percentage yet to be determined. The meeting addressed policy reforms following the abolition of the PBS (research project-based system), including restructuring of financial frameworks and detailed explanations of policy changes. Yoon Kyung-suk, the ministry's basic research policy officer, received praise for integrating researchers' perspectives with government policy principles, leading I Ju-han to comment that further meetings may no longer be necessary. Discussions covered issues like improved待遇, research allowances, contract research guidelines, strategic research follow-up plans, conflicts between autonomous research and strategic projects, varying institutional conditions, and five-year portfolio plans for R&D directions.