Global MPM Insight

Identifying Global Talent to Strengthen National Competitiveness Global MPM Insight Vol.5 Day 2 Toronto to Montreal, Talent Acquisition Across Law, Culture, and Science and Technology On Day 2, following the morning schedule in Toronto, we met with an aviation law specialist at a Canadian law firm and President of the Korean Canadian Lawyers Association to discuss professional experience in the Canadian legal community and the potential role of overseas Korean legal professionals in public policy. This exchange led to subsequent collaboration with the International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL) in connection with its September conference in Korea, producing tangible outcomes in talent acquisition cooperation. We then visited the Royal Ontario Museum and met with the art historian appointed as the inaugural curator of the Korean Gallery. The discussion focused on challenges in enhancing the gallery and curating Korean artifacts, underscoring the need to mediate administrative and cultural differences in cooperation between the Korean government and overseas institutions. Upon arrival in Montreal, we met with overseas Korean professionals at the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) and Airports Council International(ACI). Discussions covered international aviation policy, organizational roles and culture, and cross-country applications of data analytics. These exchanges provided practical insights into policy formulation grounded in international standards and deepened understanding of intergovernmental cooperation. Beginning that afternoon, we attended the Canada-Korea Conference on Sc ience and Technology(CKC) to conduct on-site interviews with participating scientists and engineers. An aerospace engineering professor recommended outstanding Korean researchers across Canada’s seven priority sectors 1) and stressed the need to establish a systematic talent pool to secure high- caliber professionals in strategic national technology fields. 1) Biotechnology; Materials Engineering; Smart Manufacturing; Artificial Intelligence; Quantum and Marine Technologies; Natural Resources and Renewable Energy; Aerospace. Day 3 Montreal - Expanding Toward Sustainable Cooperation On the final day, we attended the “Yes Canada” presentation session featuring outstanding Korean scientists across Canada’s seven priority sectors, followed by interviews with researchers in machine learning and AI, energy reuse, foamed plastics, robotics-based construction, and biomedical science. Participants expressed their hope that their overseas research experience and global perspectives could contribute to Korea’s policy and industrial development. We also met with the President of the Association of Korean-Canadian Scientists and Engineers to discuss a joint database project with the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies and potential future cooperation with the Ministry. Subsequently, we met with data analytics managers at Airports Council International(ACI) and the International Air Transport Association(IATA). Discussions highlighted progress in AI-enabled data analytics systems and the development of international safety standards based on air traffic control data. The visit concluded with a meeting with a Korean director at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to exchange views on policy coordination within international organizations and potential contributions to Korea after retirement. Implications From Individual Networks to Sustainable Institutional Partnerships This visit to Canada was significant not only in affirming the achievements of overseas Korean professionals and their willingness to engage with the Korean government, but also in laying a foundation for cooperation with diplomatic missions, international organizations, and professional associations abroad. The professionals engaged during the visit had already attained internationally competitive expertise and experience in their respective fields. There was a shared recognition that institutionalized opportunities and inter-agency coordination are essential to ensure sustained contributions. Canada, home to the world’s fourth-largest overseas Korean population, constitutes a strategic hub for global talent cooperation. The framework established through this visit is expected to evolve into a sustained network linked to the National Human Resources Database, policy advisory functions, and international collaboration. Systematically integrating the global expertise and experience of overseas Korean professionals into public governance will further enhance the Republic of Korea’s international competitiveness. 40 41