Led development of chemical engineering in Korea including synthesis of synthetic petroleum and commercialization of nitrous oxide
Introduced the American type education of chemical engineering for the first time to Korea and contributed training of chemical engineers after the War
(Late) Lee Chai-sung
Honorary Professor, Seoul National University (1924~2016)
- Academic background
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1943.10 ~ 1945.03
Department of Applied Chemistry, Tokyo Imperial University (Return while in school)
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1945.12 ~ 1946.07
Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyungsung University (Bachelor of Engineering)
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1950.09 ~ 1952.02
Master of Engineering, Columbia University, US (Chemical Engineering)
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1964.09 ~ 1968.02
Doctor of Engineering, Columbia University, US (Chemical Engineering)
- Professional career
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1947.05 ~ 1989.08
Fulltime lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor (honorary professor), College of Engineering, Seoul National University
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1969.01 ~ 1969.12
Chairman, Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers
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1976.01 ~ 1979.12
Dean, College of Engineering, Seoul National University
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1976.01 ~ 1979.12
Chairman, Association for Engineering Education in Southeast Asia
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1982.01 ~ 1983.05
The 3rd Pacific Chemical Engineering Congress III
- Awards
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1960.01
Green Stripes Order of Service Merit
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1972.05
Seoul Culture Prize (Academic Field)
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1972.08
Order of Civil Merit, Camellia Medal
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1972.10
Achievement Award, Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers
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1986.10
40 years Long Service Achievement Citation, Seoul National University
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1989.08
Order of Civil Merit, Peony Medal
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2003.03
Grand Prize, National Academy of Engineering of Korea
a pioneer of domestic chemical engineering who led the development of heavy chemical industry
Professor Chai Sung Lee is getting esteem in the academic community as a pioneer who introduced the American type curriculum of chemical engineering to Korea.
After going to study abroad at Columbia University, the USA on 4 days before initiation of the Korean War and obtaining a doctoral degree in chemical engineering, he returned to Seoul National University which was taking refuge in Busan in 1952.
The ‘Chemical Engineering’ which was developed substantially centering on America and Europe in the mid-20th century and in Korea, the education was done centering on the ‘applied chemistry’ following the discipline of Japan. These days, he returned back to Seoul National University and prepared the base to train essential human resources for the development of the heavy chemical engineering industry in the future, starting the western type class of chemical engineering.
Due to his efforts, chemical plants to produce essential materials for postwar restoration works such as fertilizer, cement, and plate glass were installed and chemical engineers able to build and operate them were trained. Then, due to the activities of the chemical engineers, oil refining and petrochemical engineering became a key industry of heavy chemical engineering and could be developed to beneficial industries accounting for 20% of the Korean export amount.
Contributed to economic growth with research achievements of new renewable energies such as coal, refined oil, atomic power, and solar heat
He contributed greatly to the demonstration of the usefulness of chemical engineering knowledge. In 1959, he succeeded in synthesizing artificial petroleum from domestic anthracite, which was reported directly to the President Syngman Rhee and spotlighted remarkably. In 1964, he revealed characteristics of synthesis and decomposition of nitrous oxide, a medical anesthetic, transferred the technology to the Korean Chemical Engineering Technology Institute, and succeeded in mass production of the nitrous oxide to show extensively aspects as chemical engineer equipped with both theory and practice. On the basis of this technical power, the entire quantity of nitrous oxide is produced and supplied in Korea. As the potential that research results on the thermal conductivity of alkali metal steam can be applied to the cooling of atomic energy generation and its importance was recognized, he received the ‘Seoul Culture Prize’ (academy sector).
Introduced the advanced education of chemical engineering and fostered chemical engineers to contribute to the development of heavy chemical engineering
Professor Lee prepared the centripetal body for academic activities and industry-university cooperation of chemical engineers and industry technical personnel by the leading foundation of the Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers in 1962. In 1983, he led internationalization by attracting PACHEC in Korea, being in charge of the head and operating it successfully as the head of Congress.
Serving as the professor of the chemical engineering department, Seoul National University for 43 years, he took the lead to improve the environment of engineering education. Serving as the dean of college of engineering, Seoul National University for 4 years from 1976, he modernized the educational and research materials and equipment and improved the research circumstances of the college of Institute, Seoul National University to the global level in terms of hardware, by securing governmental supporting fund of about 7 million dollars.
In addition, he attracted the executive office of AEESEA to Korea and held several international meetings by showing leadership as the chairman to contribute improvement of educational conditions in Southeast Asia regions.