South Korea will launch a scheme to directly select and support world-class researchers as \"national science and technology researchers\" in response to a weakening pipeline of science and engineering talent. The Science and ICT Ministry confirmed a 2026-2030 master plan jointly drafted by 11 ministries. Measures include expanding science scholarships to about 10,000, increasing stipend-support universities to around 70 by 2030, reforming alternative service for AI degrees, formalising postdoctoral status, allocating basic research to regions, strengthening AI education, and attracting 2,000 overseas researchers by 2030.