The Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) is

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

's highest academy of science and serves as an integrated

think-tank A think tank, or public policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governme ...

for the country's science and technology. It contributes to national development by promoting science and technology through active participation of its member scientists and engineers who have demonstrated professional excellence domestically and internationally in their respective fields. KAST will contribute to the globalization of science and technology by playing the role of the principal contact point for international cooperation and information exchanges, through bilateral and/or multilateral academic exchange programs with foreign academies, public semi-scientific lectures and "Science Hall of Fame" program, cooperation with international scientific and technological organizations, and friendly relations and exchanges with overseas scholars. KAST was founded in 1994 to play a strong role in helping South Korea climb the technology ladder. KAST has also served to encourage cooperation between scientists in South and North Korea in the science and technology sector. The non-profit institute has also strengthened global cooperation by operating the secretariat for the 17-member Association of Academies of Science in Asia (AASA) since 2000.

International standing

KAST is an internationally recognized academy of science. KAST has 34 Nobel Laureates amongst its foreign members including

Steven Chu Steven ChuRobert B. Laughlin Robert Betts Laughlin (born November 1, 1950) is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at Stanford University. Along with Horst L. Störmer of Columbia University and Daniel C. Tsui of Princeton Universi ...

, head of the

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology KAIST (originally the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) is a national university, national research university located in Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon, South Korea. KAIST was established by the Korean government in 1971 as the ...

and Jerome I. Friedman, who earned the 1990 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Awards

KAST and DuPont Korea cooperate in awarding the DuPont Science Award. The award recognizes South Korean scientists' contribution to scientific studies and advancement in the country and serves to encourage further excellence. Since 1997, KAST also presents the annual Young Scientist Award to four individuals in research fields. Many of the winners are employed at

SKY The sky is an unobstructed view upward from the planetary surface, surface of the Earth. It includes the atmosphere of Earth, atmosphere and outer space. It may also be considered a place between the ground and outer space, thus distinct from ...

KAIST KAIST (originally the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) is a national university, national research university located in Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon, South Korea. KAIST was established by the Korean government in 1971 as the ...

, or POSTECH at the time of the award and later frequently work for

or the

Institute for Basic Science The Institute for Basic Science (IBS; ) is a Korean government-funded research institute that conducts basic science research and relevant pure basic research. Comprising approximately 30 research centers with more than 60 research groups ac ...

List of presidents

* Cho Wan Kyoo () (November 1994 – March 1998) * Jhon Mu Shik (전무식) (March 1998 – January 2001) * Han In Kyu () (January 2001 – February 2004) * Chung KunMo () (February 2004 – February 2007) a former department head at the

International Atomic Energy Agency The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology, nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. It was ...

* Rhee Hyun-Ku (이현구) (February 2007 – March 2010) * Chung Kil-Saeng () (March 2010 – March 2013) * Park Sung Hyun (박성현) (March 2013 – March 2016) * Lee Myung-Chul (이명철) (March 2016 – March 2019) * Han Min-Koo (한민구) (March 2019 – March 2022) * Yoo Ook Joon (유욱준) (March 2022 – current)

References

External links

* {{authority control Scientific organizations based in South Korea Members of the International Science Council