Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 hr ago
South Korea’s new basic research grants to fall 27.9% next year
South Korea plans to fund 5,460 new individual basic research projects next year, 27.9% fewer than this year.
The government says the number is returning to its 2022 level after an unusually large increase in new grants this year.
But researchers seeking grants have more than doubled in four years, reaching 31,180 this year.
The share of applicants selected fell from 39.4% in 2022 to 23.5% this year, after dropping to around 14% in 2024 and 2025.
The government has set a goal of funding half of full-time university faculty by 2030, up from about 29% in 2024.
Researchers say the planned number of grants may not meet demand, and that unpredictable grant numbers make it harder to plan research.
The government says the lower total reflects a return to an appropriate funding level, while calls for more stable support continue.
South Korea’s proposed budget provides 5,460 new individual basic research grants next year, 27.9% fewer than this year.
The government says the number of new grants is returning to its 2022 level before research and development budget cuts.
Researchers say grant demand has risen sharply, with applicants increasing 2.3 times in four years.
The selection rate for individual basic research grants fell from 39.4% in 2022 to 23.5% this year.
The government has set a goal of raising the share of full-time faculty receiving support to 50% by 2030.
- Who
- South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT is proposing the grants; researchers and government officials have commented on the changes.
- What
- The proposed number of new individual basic research grants will fall 27.9% next year, to 5,460.
- When
- The proposed grants are for next year; the article was published on November 15, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The government says next year’s total returns to an appropriate level after an unusually large increase this year. Researchers say demand is growing and the number of new grants is insufficient.
South Korean government
Researchers
Grant numbers
South Korean government
The government says next year’s new-grant total returns to the 2022 level before budget cuts and is appropriate for the available research budget.
Researchers
Researchers say fewer new grants will not meet rising demand for support.
Research support goal
South Korean government
The government aims for 50% of full-time faculty to receive support by 2030.
Researchers
Researchers question whether the target can be met without expanding new grants and providing stable support.
The selection rate for individual basic research grants was 39.4%, and 13,462 researchers applied.
The selection rate fell to 20.8%, while the number of applicants rose to 15,978.
The selection rate fell to 14.4%, and applicants increased to 21,428.
The selection rate was 14.9%, with 27,434 applicants.
The selection rate rebounded to 23.5%, and 31,180 researchers applied.
The government’s proposed budget provides 5,460 new individual basic research grants, 27.9% fewer than this year.
- New grants next year
- 5,460
- Change in new grants
- Down 27.9% from this year
- Total supported grants next year
- 18,516
- Applicants this year
- 31,180
- Selection rate in 2022
- 39.4%
- 2030 support target
- 50% of full-time faculty
1 source
What people are saying
The appropriate number of new core research grants at the current science budget level is in the mid-3,000s.
If you describe this as a sharp decline in basic research, you are asking to maintain the part that made up for the damage; that would put the budget above the appropriate level.
I question whether it is right for the number of newly selected grants to return to the 2022 level before the damage of the past three years has even been repaired.