KAIST student encourages scientific community to vote in general election to research without worrying

Chae Dong-joo, a fourth-year physics student at KAIST, posted a large sign titled \

Chae Dong-joo (22), a senior at Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST)’s Department of Physics, has dreamed of studying cosmology. Chae, who studies basic studies such as the past, present and future of the universe, said his dream of research began to falter early this year. This is because the research environment has become unstable since the government cut its research and development (R&D) budget.

"What should I do to create an environment where I can focus on the research I want to do without worrying?" Chae posted a handwritten poster, titled "For a World Where You Can Dream of Science," on the school bulletin board on March 27. The poster encouraged members of the scientific community to vote in the general election on April 10.

"The easiest and fastest way to show that we are taking R&D budget cuts seriously and that we want a world where we can do scientific research without worrying is to vote," Chae wrote, adding, “Please vote for a world where we can fulfill our dreams." Chae also participated in an activity in which four young people informed the youth issues and encouraged people in their 20s and 30s to vote under the name "2030 Voter Network" on the 24th.

Chae said he is witnessing the survival of researchers and the dreams of students being threatened after this year's R&D budget cuts. He said research teams have been disbanded and projects have been canceled frequently. "As an aspiring pure scientist, I'm worried because the government is drastically cutting budgets in areas that I think are inefficient," Chae said. “I was very worried as I saw the government was flip-flopping on the future of science.”

Chae's frustration grew when he saw a graduate who chanted for the restoration of the government’s R&D budget being dragged away by security guards during President Yoon Suk-yeol's congratulatory remarks at KAIST's commencement ceremony last month. “The president's congratulatory speech was about 'I will hold your hand,’ but he immediately dragged away the person who called for the budget restoration,” Chae said, adding, “"It was questionable whether the government was really interested in scientific development or willing to listen to the voices of the scientific community."

Chae, who decided to post the handwritten poster after much thought, said, "I didn't mean to support a particular political party, but I wanted to say that science and engineering students and researchers should vote and make their voices heard to ensure that our opinions can be reflected when the government deals with R&D budget cuts and agendas about science.” He added, "Some people think 'voting won't make a difference,' but we need to let them know that the scientific community is taking this issue seriously through voting.”

Chae, who co-represented the "University Student and Graduates Task Force on the Forced Exit of the Requester of R&D Budget Restoration at KAIST's Commencement Ceremony,” plans to share the cases of those affected by the R&D budget cuts. The task force was launched on the 21st to receive the cases of those affected by R&D budget cuts and collect joint statements for the normalization of R&D. On the 30th, it will release a statement and a policy demand based on the damage cases and request meetings about policy to political parties.

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.