South Korea Invests 300 Billion Won to Attract Top AI Talent and Reverse Brain Drain

South Korea Launches Major Initiative to Attract AI Talent Worldwide

South Korea is making a strong push to secure top artificial intelligence (AI) talent by investing 300 billion won over the next five years. The government plans to recruit 400 postdoctoral researchers specializing in AI convergence fields, targeting both domestic and international candidates. This strategic move also seeks to bring back researchers who left the U.S., many of whom departed following research budget cuts during the previous U.S. administration.

This initiative mirrors efforts by Japan, which recently allocated 100 billion yen (approximately 950 billion won) to attract researchers leaving the U.S. South Korea’s program focuses on nurturing young scientists and integrating them into the country’s academic, industrial, and research ecosystems through collaborative, team-based projects.

InnoCore Research Teams and Funding Details

On June 15, the Ministry of Science and ICT, along with South Korea’s four leading science and technology institutes—KAIST, UNIST, DGIST, and GIST—announced the selection of eight “InnoCore” research teams. These teams will work on AI convergence projects, supported by a plan to recruit 400 postdoctoral researchers from Korea and abroad.

The government has already secured 30 billion won in this year’s supplementary budget and will allocate a total of 300 billion won over five years. Each postdoctoral researcher recruited through this program will receive an annual salary of 90 million won and 60 million won in research funding. To make the positions more competitive internationally, the government also plans to link researchers with corporate partnerships and other funded projects.

Addressing the Postdoctoral Researcher Gap

South Korean officials emphasize the importance of postdoctoral researchers in advancing technology. They refer to the “DeepSeek shock” — the rapid progress of China’s AI sector, where breakthrough work has been achieved by young researchers shortly after completing their PhDs.

Currently, postdocs in Korea are often seen as temporary workers, resulting in limited institutional support. For comparison, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), postdoctoral researchers outnumber tenured faculty and play a crucial role in research. In contrast, Korea’s top science institutes employ postdocs at about half the ratio found at MIT, and salaries are significantly lower—only 41% of MIT’s average.

This gap has contributed to many Korean PhD holders choosing to work abroad, particularly in the U.S. The new program aims to reverse this trend by creating attractive opportunities at home.

Recruitment Efforts Abroad

To find top candidates, the institutes will hold in-person recruitment sessions starting June 18 in Boston, near Harvard and MIT. Additional events will take place in New York on June 20 and Silicon Valley on June 23. The campaign will be promoted through leading academic journals such as Nature and Science, as well as professional networks like LinkedIn.

The institutes will collaborate with overseas partners, the Korean Scientists and Engineers Network (KOSEN), the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association, and Korean student associations abroad to maximize outreach.

What This Means for AI Researchers

• Competitive salaries and research funding make South Korea an attractive destination for postdoctoral researchers in AI.
• Team-based projects encourage collaboration across academia and industry.
• Significant government investment signals long-term commitment to AI research.
• Recruitment events abroad provide direct access for international researchers to explore opportunities in Korea.

For AI professionals looking to explore new research environments or contribute to AI convergence projects, this initiative represents a valuable opportunity. Those interested can stay informed about developments and related educational resources at Complete AI Training.