23 November 2023
By Daeun Lee
STEM students from 11 top domestic universities gathered at the National Assembly, expressing grave concerns over unilateral R&D budget cuts. They demanded a complete reassessment of the 2025 budget, emphasizing the immediate impact on student researchers.
Beyond financial concerns, the cuts threaten research quality by hindering material procurement and equipment operation. Worried about their future, most undergraduate students contemplated reconsidering their STEM career paths, fearing a drift towards medical schools due to the lack of communication and dwindling budget.
Moreover, students highlighted the lack of trust in national governance, despite government promises to restore some science-related budgets. Urging for a bridge between youth perspectives and science policies, students called out the government and the National Assembly to facilitate effective communication for the betterment of enriching science fields.