북한 「과학기술인재관리법」의 제정: 과학기술법제의 진화와 비교법적 함의

초록

In 2023, North Korea (DPRK) enacted the Science and Technology Talent Management Act, establishing its first comprehensive legal framework for managing science and technology (S&T) personnel. This study analyzes the Act’s core provisions and traces the evolution of S&T legislation across the Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un eras, examining how the current regime has institutionalized talent management as a core national strategy. The analysis reveals that the Act, working in conjunction with the newly enacted Gifted Education Act, formalizes an integrated pipeline from early cultivation to professional management. It codifies a stringent, state-led strategy characterized by: (1) planned talent cultivation based on state demand; (2) mandatory registration of all personnel into a centralized national database; (3) strict control over placement, evaluation, and mobility; and (4) a dual system of incentives and administrative punishments to maximize performance and compliance. Finally, a comparative legal analysis with China and Vietnam highlights the distinctiveness of the North Korean model. Unlike these nations, which primarily utilize policy programs and economic incentives, the DPRK has adopted a unique approach by enacting a single, comprehensive special law dedicated to the rigid, centralized control of its human resources. This high degree of legalization reflects the regime’s strategy to build a “science and technology powerhouse” by tightly managing its critical personnel despite severe resource limitations and international isolation.

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