It would be better to speak more naturally while making eye contact next time, rather than just reading the script.
Every Monday, after the weekly meeting of the Genome Editing Research Group at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in Daejeon, a unique scene unfolds that is rarely seen in other laboratories. Foreign doctoral students take the time to listen to a Korean student's English presentation and provide advice. They address everything from grammar and pronunciation to word choice and presentation style, point by point.
On the 13th of last month, Gu Bon-gyeong, head of the Genome Editing Research Group at IBS, said, "At first, Korean students felt burdened by presenting in English, but after 1 to 2 years, they present effortlessly at international conferences and even receive awards," adding, "I feel that their English skills and academic confidence are growing simultaneously."
The Genome Editing Research Group led by Director General Gu is a representative 'global lab' in Korea, where researchers of different nationalities and languages gather. He has worked at world-renowned research institutions such as the Hubrecht Institute in the Netherlands, Cambridge University in the UK, and the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) in Austria, after attending Pohang University of Science and Technology POSTECH and Seoul National University. Director General Gu joined IBS in 2021 and began actively attracting multinational talent to Korea, leveraging his experiences.
Prajwal Walke from India, Mengwei Cheng from China, and Thomas Maarten Klompstra from the Netherlands have also joined as doctoral researchers under Director General Gu. They all said, "The environment is centered on English, and the experimental equipment, space, and management system are well established," adding, "It holds up well compared to anywhere in the world." Klompstra noted, "Although the research lab is in Korea, it resembles labs in Europe," stating, "Culturally, it is horizontal, and there is no hesitation in communication."
◇"Application forms, visa documents... still only accepting paper"
However, once they step outside the laboratory, the situation changes completely. The first thing foreign researchers encounter is the wall of 'hard copy' administration.
Walke, a researcher from India, said that after working as an intern in Director General Gu's lab in 2022, he wanted to continue to the doctoral program, but problems began from that point. He shared, "I was told that email submissions weren't accepted, so I sent my documents by international mail, but even after admission was confirmed, I was continually asked for additional paperwork," stating, "The application process is inefficient, and there is almost no separate guidance for foreigners."
He felt that the application process was so complicated that even excellent students might consider giving up midway. Walke remarked, "Requiring hard copies of documents that could be submitted after admission is burdensome in both time and expense."
Klompstra, a researcher from the Netherlands, had a similar experience. He said, "After graduating with my master's degree in 2023, I had to change my visa type to pursue a doctoral program, but I had to submit the same documents multiple times as hard copies instead of online," adding, "If I hadn’t received help from those around me, it would have been really overwhelming."
The challenges faced by foreign students were repeated during the research funding application stage. While communication in English is relatively free within IBS, things are different when applying for external government research funding or private foundation programs. Walke stated, "Most notices, regulations, and application forms are provided only in Korean," adding, "Even with a translator, scientific terminology or administrative expressions are hard to understand."
He noted that even when there is an English site, it often leads to a file in Korean, or the link itself is broken. Cheng, a researcher from China, also said, "The website has an English version, but when downloading files, most are in Korean," adding, "The language barrier makes it difficult to access information." It was a common concern that administrative procedures are hard to navigate without help from laboratory colleagues or administrative staff.
◇"Still treated as 'guests'... support needed for settlement"
The three foreign doctoral students have all spent 1 to 3 years in Korea and have had various experiences. Cheng said, "Korean culture was unfamiliar at first, but I have become accustomed to enjoying my time in the parks around IBS, soaking up the sun." Klompstra remarked, "There are times when it’s difficult to find ingredients, but delivery food is really convenient," adding, "I feel that Korea is a very easy country to live in."
However, they also expressed uncertainty about continuing to live in Korea as researchers. They stated, "We can't see a clear path after graduation," noting, "There is a lot of uncertainty about the future." Director General Gu, who has consistently recruited international interns since 2021, shared the same sentiment.
He stated, "In Europe, there is a natural path to become a researcher or professor after completing a doctoral program, and the visa system is aligned with that," adding, "In Korea, it still seems to focus on short-term stays, and the administrative system treats foreigners as guests who come for a brief visit."
Director General Gu pointed out that more institutional support is needed for foreign researchers to focus solely on their research. He emphasized, "Beyond overcoming language barriers, they should be enabled to have a complete life regarding administration, housing, culture, and visas," stating, "We need to help them root in Korea so that both foreign researchers and Korea can grow."
Foreign researchers believe that Korea's research environment is highly competitive. They noted that to attract more foreign researchers to choose Korea, along with institutional support, active promotion is needed. Cheng said, "Although Korea has excellent research capabilities, the reason foreign researchers are not flocking here is due to a lack of information," emphasizing, "There needs to be more proactive promotion across the Korean scientific community."
The Genome Editing Research Group at IBS has previously posted an internship information poster on social media, reflecting the opinions of foreign researchers. At that time, one poster received more than 100 inquiries over 3 to 4 months, resulting in explosive responses.
Klompstra stated, "Many foreigners get to know Korea through K-dramas or K-pop, but information about research is difficult to access and less known," adding, "Good researchers will come if they see opportunities, so it is also necessary to showcase those opportunities."