Father of science and technology who created Daedeok Research Complex, the first comprehensive research institute in Korea
Made efforts to transfer our know-how to developing countries through science and technology development plan, etc.
(Late) Choi Hyung-sub
(1920~2004)
- Academic background
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1939.04 ~ 1944.09
Department of Mining and Metallurgy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Japan
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1954.01 ~ 1955.08
Master of Engineering, Graduate School of Notre Dame University, USA
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1955.09 ~ 1958.07
Doctor of Engineering, Graduate School of Minnesota University, USA (Metal Engineering)
- Professional career
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1962.04 ~ 1966.02
Head, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
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1966.02 ~ 1971.06
The First President, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)
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1971.06 ~ 1978.12
Minister of Science and Technology
- Awards
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1994.05
May 16 National Prize
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1996.02
Order of Civil Merit, Rose of Sharon Medal
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1997.05
Nikkei Asia International Grand Prize (Japanese Economic Newspaper)
Scientist and science administrator who made remarkable achievements such as the establishment of KIST, Daedeok Research Complex, and Korea Science and Engineering Foundation
Dr. Hyung Sub Choi is a scientist and science administrator who made remarkable achievements in the history of Korea’s science and technology development such as the establishment of KIST, Daedeok Research Complex, and Korea Science and Engineering Foundation.
With the idea that the development of underground resource was essential for wealth of the people, he studied mining and metallurgy in Waseda University, Japan and later went to the USA and obtained doctoral degree with a thesis suggesting a new theory on isolation and selection of non-sulfide minerals such as iron ore by studying smelting engineering necessary for Korea. After returning to Korea, he performed various researches on several subjects in metal engineering areas at Korea Atomic Energy Institute during the day and at Metal and Fuel Institute founded under his lead at night. His research subjects included interfacial phenomenon and floatation kinetics, hydrometallurgy, basic properties of metal materials, development of ultra-heat-resisting alloy, manufacturing of high-grade steel, science, and technology development policies and research administration. He made a lot of research achievements in the metal engineering field including interfacial phenomenon and floatation kinetics, and hydrometallurgy. His research received enormous international acknowledgment that it accounted for the most part of Chapter 7 Oxide Minerals of ‘Flotation’, which is regarded as the textbook in this field, published by the American Society of Metals. The study on the effect of crystal structure on the interfacial phenomenon, which was designed and attempted by him for the first time and is being conducted actively in several counties, is evaluated to have played a pioneering role in this area.
He was appointed as the first president of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), the first comprehensive research institute of Korea, and made a distinguished contribution to the foundation and operation of KIST. He presented ‘autonomy of research’, ‘stability of research’, and ‘formation of research environment’ as the operation philosophy and made a great contribution to making it the best research institute in Korea within such a short period of time by inviting excellent Korean scientists and engineers. He introduced the ‘research contract system’ in establishing the KIST operation system and contributed to the establishment of the new research development system for promoting industrial technology, ‘active participation of company and responsible performance of researchers.’ Due to this system, it was possible to draw active participation of companies by exempting tax for the whole amount of consignment research funds. His know-how and experiences in establishing and operating KIST successfully as its first president were applied to other government-funded research institutes established afterward. This operation principle of KIST was evaluated as a model case for developing the country’s technological development.
Laid the foundation for science and technology administration in Korea and transferred the same to developing countries
He established the foundation for the development of science and technology in Korea, serving as the Minister of Science and Technology for 7.5 years from 1971. He suggested and practiced 3 basic concepts to develop science and technology, including the ‘development of the foundation for science and technology development’, ‘strategic development of industrial technology’, and ‘development of the climate for science and technology.’ In the process of implementing these basic concepts, he carried forward the construction of Daedeok research and education city, where research institutes and educational institutes coexist and stabilized the science and technology research system for industrial development, including the establishment of information industry division in the Ministry of Science and Technology to prepare the base for information industry development. In addition, he gave efforts for the establishment of the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation in order to foster basic science and established a system to support the consistent performance of research and development from basic to applied and to develop research.
Dr. Hyung Sub Choi presented science and technology development strategies for developing counties on the basis of his experience and helped developing countries to establish their science and technology development plans. After retiring from frontlines, he advised on science and technology development policies and plans for developing countries on the request of the UN-affiliated agencies, was invited to various international meetings to deliver keynote addresses, and presided over the meetings as chairperson in many cases. In 1988, his sphere of activities grew after he was elected as an advisor of the UN Organization for Science and Technology Development and he made a great contribution to raise the status of Korea in international society, visiting and helping actively developing countries at least 5 times per year in average. As results of these activities, he organized and published his research in this field in book forms such as ‘Research on industrial technology of developing countries' and ‘Science and technology development strategy of developing countries’ and was elected to a foreign member of Russia Science Academy for the first time as Korean in 1994.