Global MPM Insight

Identifying Global Talent to Strengthen National Competitiveness Global MPM Insight Vol.5 IdentifyingGlobal Talent to Strengthen National Competitiveness Overseas Korean Talents Met in Canada: FieldHighlights Amid rapid technological transformation and rising geopolitical uncertainty, national competitiveness depends on a country’s capacity to identify and attract global talents and to institutionalize sustained collaboration with them. In particular, human capital in advanced science and technology, and international governance constitutes a fundamental pillar of national strength. According to the ‘2025 Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI)’ published by INSEAD and the Portulans Institute, Singapore ranked first overall, surpassing Switzerland, which had led for several consecutive years. This result reflects Singapore’s strong performance in future talent development in response to artificial intelligence and digital transformation and in the “Attract” pillar. In contrast, Korea ranked 31st out of 135 countries, receiving comparatively lower scores, especially in the “Attract” category. In response to these global trends, the Ministry of Personnel Management(MPM) has, since 2016, implemented the Global Talent Acquisition Initiative to expand opportunities for outstanding overseas Korean professionals to serve in public office and policy advisory roles, while strengthening inter-agency coordination mechanisms. In July–August 2025, MPM conducted its first official visit to Canada - home to leading AI and deep learning scholars such as Geoffrey Hinton - and held on-site consultations with overseas Korean professionals active in academia, international organizations, and professional associations. Introduction Cho Yunjeong Professional Career Officer of Talent Acquisition Planning Division, MPM Choi Goya Deputy Director of Talent Acquisition Planning Division, MPM Day 1 Toronto, Overseas Korean Professionals at the Research Frontlines The first engagement took place in Toronto, Canada’s largest city and a center of multiculturalism. With over 50 percent of its population foreign-born, Toronto symbolically embodies the global mobility and settlement of talent. The first site visit was to the University of Toronto, ranked first in Canada and consistently placed among the top institutions in the QS World University Rankings. Meetings were held with Korean professors from the Faculties of Engineering and Arts and Science to discuss their research achievements, experiences in international collaboration, and potential linkages between their expertise and Korean government policy. A professor specializing in AI solutions for smart buildings emphasized the need for qualitative evaluation of research outcomes and recommended several Korean scholars in Canada for government advisory roles. A physics professor-Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a leading quantum researcher at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research(CIFAR)-shared insights on Korea’s science and technology policy and on attracting outstanding overseas talent, drawing on extensive international experience. In the afternoon, we visited the KOTRA Toronto to discuss establishing cooperation frameworks with KOTRA Overseas Offices and Korean business associations, as well as joint measures to identify outstanding overseas talent. We then visited York University and met Korean professors applying AI across fields such as machine learning and data analytics, blockchain and cryptocurrency, AI-based installation art, and intelligent transportation systems. The discussions highlighted the importance of cultivating interdisciplinary, convergence-oriented talent beyond traditional engineering fields. Sketch of the Day 39 38