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Starting pay for PhD researchers varies by up to 23.21 million won
Starting salaries for PhD-level researchers vary widely across South Korea's government-funded science institutes.
Last year, the average starting salary across 23 institutes was 58.01 million won.
The figures cover researchers with a bachelor's degree, no military service and no work experience, and include base and performance pay but not allowances.
The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science had the highest starting salary, at 70.37 million won, while the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine had the lowest, at 47.16 million won.
That is a gap of 23.21 million won, with the top figure about 1.49 times the bottom one.
Differences in research fields, finances and pay systems help explain the variation, but lower-paying institutes may struggle to attract and retain skilled researchers amid competition with private companies.
Lawmaker Lee Ju-hee warned that staff shortages could widen imbalances in national research capacity; no specific next step was given.
Starting salaries for PhD-level researchers at South Korean government-funded research institutes differed by 23.21 million won.
The figures cover 23 science and technology institutes and show an average starting salary of 58.01 million won last year.
The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science had the highest average at 70.37 million won.
The Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine had the lowest at 47.16 million won.
Lawmakers and researchers warn that pay gaps could make it harder for lower-paying institutes to recruit and retain staff.
- Who
- PhD-level researchers at South Korean government-funded research institutes.
- What
- Average starting salaries varied by as much as 23.21 million won across 23 institutes.
- When
- The data concern last year; the report was published on October 15, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- Salaries differ because of institutes’ research fields, financial circumstances and pay systems. A lawmaker warned that gaps could hinder recruitment and retention.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The average starting salary for PhD-level researchers at 23 science and technology institutes was 58.01 million won.
Hankyung published its report on the differences in starting salaries.
- Institutes surveyed
- 23 science and technology government-funded research institutes
- Average starting salary
- 58.01 million won
- Highest
- Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science: 70.37 million won
- Lowest
- Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine: 47.16 million won
- Difference
- 23.21 million won
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