Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies held its 50th anniversary on July 13 at Coex, southern Seoul, with a feeling of happiness that it was able to come this far and with concern for its future.
KOFST is an organization set up on Sept. 24, 1966, boasting over 5 million members; over 600 science and technology academic organizations with 12 regional science and technology federations and a similar organizations in 18 countries, all managed by overseas Koreans and affiliated research labs.
The federation has undoubtedly played an important role in the miraculous development of Korea in the past half-century. Some 1,000 Korean scientists from overseas attended the anniversary ceremony at Coex, Seoul, and Chairman Lee Boo-seob boasted that the history of Korea’s progress in technology is the same as that for KOFST, whose duty is to make an environment for technology development and a society where scientists and technologists are respected.
But the chairman said he fears of the future development of science and technology in Korea, with the number of those aspiring to be either scientists or technologists much smaller now, down to one-tenth what it used to be from two children out of 100. He said they should consider the future of science and technology in Korea, and the role they should play. Private funds can be more readily utilized under the new Science and Technology Trust Law.
Chairman Kwon Oh-joon of POSCO won the top award, the Science and Technology Person Award, at the ceremony while Professor Hyun Taik-hwan of Seoul National University also won the same award. Chairman Kwon got the award for diverse achievements during his long career as a steel man, who rose to chairman as a research staff at POSCO.
He was given credit for POSCO’s development of special high-strength steel products, becoming living proof of the steel production technology. He said the steel plant is a “representative smoke stack industry, but I won the great award, which is very significant.” He went on to add that he truly appreciates the award as it meant the recognition of the steel industry’s contribution to the national progress in the past half century.
Professor Hyun said his students’ passionate research into nano particles led him to win the award. He said the papers he wrote over a decade have been the result of joint research. He got the state to help so as to concentrate on his research for the past 20 years, especially support from the IBS Institute, which he still gets. He said he would like to continue to give his support to the state and many people “as a researcher playing tennis until in his 70s.” The professor is an expert on nano particles with varying sizes, having written some 290 papers on the subject. Quotes from his papers total some 33,000, making him a true expert on nano particles.
Vice Minister Hong Nam-ki of the Ministry of the Science and ICT and Future Planning, in his congratulatory speech, said the ministry will change the research and development system so that creative study can be pursued as much as possible to lead the national development, helping to cope with climate change, national welfare and other social problems to upgrade the national happiness.
In order to make effective use of the best Korean scientists abroad and set up a venue to exchange advanced science and technology, KOFST supports overseas Associations with project funding and operating expenses; co-chairs the US-Korea Conference on Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship (UKC), the EU-Korea Conference on Science and Technology (EKC) and Asia Korea Community (AKC); and organizes the World Congress of Korean and Korean-ethnic Scientists and Engineers (WCSE).
The Forum was launched in 2002 to build a human network and strengthen bonds among 2nd and 3rd generation Korean scientists.
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POSCO Chairman Kown Oh-joon poses with MSIP Vice Minister Hong Nam-ki after receiving the top award, the Science and Technology Person Award, from the latter.
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