Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
EU Delegation celebrates Int'l Women’s Day with STEM event
EU Delegation Deputy Ambassador to Korea Roland Honekamp speaks during an International Women’s Day event in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of EU Delegation Office in Seoul
By Kim Hyun-bin
The European Union Delegation in Seoul, together with Sookmyung Women’s University and the Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET), hosted an International Women’s Day event Friday highlighting the role of women in science and technology.
Held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, the event brought together students, professionals and academics to discuss ways to strengthen women’s participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and to celebrate the achievements of women leaders in those sectors.
Women remain underrepresented in STEM globally. In Europe, women account for about one in three STEM graduates and roughly one in five information and communications technology specialists. In Korea, women make up only about 23.9 percent of STEM doctoral graduates, one of the lowest shares among OECD countries.
Organizers said narrowing the gender gap in advanced scientific training is essential not only for equality but also for sustaining innovation and economic growth.
The program began with a session titled “Stories from the Frontlines,” where four women from academia, industry and research shared their career experiences. Speakers described the challenges they faced in male-dominated fields as well as the opportunities that helped them succeed.
This was followed by a panel discussion, which focused on barriers that limit women’s participation in STEM and policy measures that could help improve representation.
“Promoting women’s participation in STEM is a matter of fairness and justice, but it is also about unlocking Europe’s and Korea’s full innovative potential,” said Ugo Astuto, the EU ambassador to Korea. “When women and men contribute equally to science and technology, research becomes stronger, solutions more inclusive, and societies more resilient.”
Astuto said the EU supports gender equality in research through programs such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus Plus, which fund collaborative research and academic exchanges.
Meanwhile, Sookmyung Women’s University President Moon Si-yeun said women scientists should play a leading role in shaping future innovation.
“Women in science and technology should not remain mere participants but become agents who design and lead change,” Moon said, adding that the university aims to cultivate creative thinkers capable of solving complex problems and expanding women’s leadership in the field.
Moon Aree, president of WISET, said diversity in research teams is key to scientific progress.
“Innovation in science and technology can truly be achieved only when talents with diverse perspectives participate throughout the entire research process,” she said.
Korea became the first Asian country to join the EU’s Horizon Europe research program as an associated member beginning Jan. 1, 2025. The partnership allows Korean researchers to participate in EU-funded projects on the same terms as European partners.
Organizers said cooperation under Horizon Europe, along with initiatives such as the Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellowships, is expected to strengthen EU–Korea research ties while creating more opportunities for women scientists.