Korea Foundation for Women i n Science, Engineering and Technology

WISET is with you to support fulfilling your hopes and dreams.
Greetings,

Today, there is a remarkable interest in fostering and harnessing women in STEM around the world. South Korea is no exception, and the government has been exerting considerable effort to nurture women in STEM while considering it a national development strategy. This is because, with the working-age population shrinking due to the low fertility rate and the rapid population aging, it has become more important than ever to harness the female workforce. Furthermore, in the digital revolution era, advanced technology and scientific thinking are required across all industrial fields, thus requiring a far greater number of women with competencies in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) than ever before.

Accordingly, the Korean government enacted the Act on Fostering and Supporting Women Scientists and Technicians in 2002 and has set and implemented mid- and long-term policy goals every five years. The Fourth Master Plan was implemented from 2019 to 2023, aiming at “realizing a society in which the potential value of women in STEM can be expressed.”

WISET is a public institution providing comprehensive support to women in STEM through government funding and was established on the basis of the aforementioned Act. This institution is dedicated to ① educating women in STEM to develop the competence demanded by society, ② creating jobs and conditions for them to enter industry, academia, and research fields, ③ and promoting a culture in which the values created by women in STEM are integrated with the social and national values.

First, we will further develop the WISET System for supporting women in STEM over the entire lifecycle. This is a program with support tailored to each phase of the lifecycle (education/career exploration, early stages of the career, career maintenance, and growth) aimed at promoting women’s entry and growth in STEM. We will also strategically attract the workforce to emerging industries by reinforcing demand-oriented support for industrial fields, diversifying careers related to emerging technologies, nurturing leaders at mid-level or higher, preventing career interruption, and supporting return to the labor market, thereby enabling women in STEM to confidently fulfill their roles amid rapid change in the industry landscape.

Second, We will promote a culture in which women in STEM can create values. With values such as inclusiveness, diversity, and work-family balance becoming increasingly important worldwide, there has been more interest in the social value of science and technology and gender equality in STEM. The social role and status of women in STEM must also ascend accordingly, and the appropriate environment and culture must be improved to this end. We will, therefore, strive to raise awareness and create the necessary conditions through the sustainable growth platform for women in STEM.

Third,We dedicate to systematically introduce global standards to South Korea by communicating and collaborating with domestic and international organizations. It will also create the science and technology ecosystem enabling the improvement of women’s representation in STEM and showing their capabilities in all areas of society, from school classrooms to the boardrooms in companies and organizations,m so as to contribute to the scientific and technological competitiveness of South Korea.

Thank you.