Korea vows support to foster female talents in science engineering

South Korea’s Science and ICT Minister Lee Jong-ho gives a keynote speech at the Girls’ Engineering Week Lecture held in Seoul on July 21. [Courtesy of Ministry of Science and ICT]

South Korea’s Science and ICT Minister Lee Jong-ho on Friday highlighted the need to foster female talents in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs.

“Nurturing scientists and engineers plays a crucial role in determining a country’s survival,” Lee said, in his keynote speech delivered at the Girls’ Engineering Week Lecture on Friday. “Today’s constant decline in the population has resulted in a severe shortage of such specialists, and there is significant untapped potential for female students to pursue careers in the field of science and technology.”

The keynote speech was titled, “Science and Technology Talent, the Future of Korea.”

The population of those aged between 6 and 21, known as the school-age population, has fallen in Korea amid an overall demographic decline. As of 2021, college admissions stood at approximately 640,000, down from 750,000 in 2020.

According to Statistics Korea, the admissions are projected to fall to around 300,000 in 2040. The demographic crisis will cause a subsequent fall in female talent in science and technology.

“Approximately 50 percent of university science and engineering entrants are male,” Lee said. “The government will spare no effort to encourage their participation.”

The data shows that Korea is set to suffer shortages of female scientists and engineers

Of the ten female college admissions as of 2021, two pursued STEM majors. The other eight went with the majors of the humanities, medicine, and education.

The Korea Foundation for Women in Science Engineering, and Technology (WISET) found in its latest report that the figures have remained constant since 2012, which indicates that the participation of girls in STEM fields has remained stagnant for ten years.

Meanwhile, the lecture was held to celebrate Girls’ Engineering Week, which will last until August 9. As many as 200 participants, including female students from elementary, middle, and high schools and their parents joined.

The lectures were delivered by prominent female figures, including Kim Myung-Hee, vice president of Shinhan Financial Group Co., and Oh U-ran, a professor in computer engineering at Ewha Woman’s University.