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Can an international student be appointed as a professor in South Korea?

Anonymous

ESCWorld

2023-11-16

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🔗숲사이(soopsci)는 '사단법인 변화를 꿈꾸는 과학기술인 네트워크(ESC)'에서 운영하는 과학기술인 커뮤니티입니다.

I am a doctoral graduate student who has been studying in Korea for three years. I would like to continue my research activities in Korea after receiving my degree and postdoctoral program.

Is it possible for a foreigner to become a professor in Korea, and are there any examples of such cases?

Thanks for reading.

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10월 11일(금)~13일(일)

10월 12일(토)

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DNA-welder 2023-11-18 00:25

Hello and welcome to ESCWorld.

Literally, it is possible, but also this will be multifaceted issue.

Based on my own experience and my viewpoint on the academic rigidities in Korea that connect to nepotism, I think you would encounter much higher huddle to overcome during your academic journey compared to your Korean colleagues. Also, you need to consider the stats about the ratio of appointments of domestic PhDs to foreign (most of the time, U.S. and Europe) PhDs for faculty positions in academia.
I am not just saying it is hard and I do not want to discourage you. I want you to know the characteristics of Korean society and build your own strategy to overcome things.
What your major is, who you study with, where you study, every single current situation will affect your path to your goal.
Find what you have now, and what you need in future.
Even many Korean Ph.D. students go abroad for their postdoctoral career if they want to become a professor in Korea. This is the reality that we share on the way to our goal, I mean, for a stable academic job position.

Finally, what I really want to say to you is, do your best at what you want to do. And enjoy your science and your life.
You will make it, or you will fail. But this is just a tiny part of your long journey. Keep challenging yourself, keep experiencing a lot of things, and please make your own way. And I hope your journey in my mother country gives you a great experience in your life.

Good luck!

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Anonymous2023-11-18 10:12

DNA-welder//
I think it will take a lot of planning and effort to understand the Korean academic culture.
Thank you for your detailed and kind response.

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jkr2023-11-20 22:26

as someone said in the above, there would be some additional challenges for international researchers in finding academic positions in Korea immediately after phd education or postdoctoral periods

i saw recently a case who did postdoctoral in korea and got an academic position in the UK. this kind of route would be also possible to consider.

if the intention to return to korea is the ultimate goal, after the initial academic experience outside of korea it would be a lot better position to find an academic job in korea

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Anonymous2023-11-21 09:30

Thanks for the helpful advice.

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starry_night2023-11-21 11:46

If you're hoping to find a position in Korea, I think it's helpful that you've studied here and already understand how the system works. I know there are a few international researchers who completed their degrees in Korea or had postdoc experiences in Korea and then have continued their research career as (tenured) professors at the universities in Korea. All the best!!!!!

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Thanksgiving is coming.!! Survey results of the Education and Research Environment for International Students in Korea’s Graduate School of Science and Engineering

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