The Park Hanshin Science and Technology Association:
A 50-Year Legacy of Supporting Korean Science and Technology
The Park Hanshin Science and Technology Association, also known as the Korean American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA), has played a pivotal role in the development of science and technology in Korea over the past 50 years. Established as a non-profit organization in 1972, KSEA aimed to contribute to the mother country by strengthening ties and exchanging professional knowledge between Korean scientists and engineers in the United States.
The association's initiatives include the Muguk Visiting Academic Conference, which has provided a platform for governmental origins between domestic and foreign scientists and engineers since 1974. The establishment of the Korea-US Science Collaboration Center in 1997 further solidified KSEA's efforts to promote science and technology cooperation between the two countries. As of 2023, KSEA boasts a cumulative membership of over 30,000, with over 7,000 active regular members.
The association's regional meetings, activated in 2023, have expanded to a total of 7 branches and divisions, fostering communication and exchange among members through annual picnics and technical seminars. KSEA's commitment to the next generation of leaders is evident in its scholarship committee, established in 2005, which runs various scholarship projects targeting Korean college and graduate students with leadership potential.
The association also hosts a conference for the next generation of Korean science students and a national math and science competition for younger students. Throughout its 50-year history, KSEA has partnered with various organizations to foster talent and strengthen capabilities. The association remains dedicated to its mission as a bridge between Korean schools, striving to create a world where everyone is happy through science and technology.
“We will become a bridge that leads to international R&D cooperation” - Maeil Business Newspaper
"R&D 국제협력 이끄는 가교되겠다" - 매일경제
- input : 2024-02-08 15:58:29
Oh Tae-hwan, the next president of the Korean American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA), said budget cuts have damaged trust and led to the suspension of some cooperation projects, saying,
“The Korea-US Scientists Conference is a venue for cooperation.”
“It’s very sad.” In a recent interview with Maeil Business Newspaper, Oh Tae-hwan, the next president of the Korean American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA) (professor, photo, College of Engineering, University of Rochester, U.S.) repeatedly expressed regret over cuts in Korea's research and development (R&D) budget. He visited Korea ahead of the 2024 Korea-US Scientists Conference (UKC), which will be held in San Francisco from August 21st to 24th. “It is very unfortunate that something like this happened in a place that is good at doing things,” he said.
KSEA is a Korean-American scientist organization that celebrates its 54th anniversary this year. There are over 7,000 active members in over 70 branches in the United States. President-elect Oh, who will lead KSEA starting in July, is a 1.5 generation Korean whose family immigrated when he was young. He earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in the United States and has been working in American academia since 1996.
President-elect Oh pointed out that the biggest concern about this R&D budget cut is the 'decrease in trust in the international community.' A recent trend in the scientific community is international cooperation. World-class research achievements are mainly created through group research. R&D achievements that have surprised humanity, such as humanity's first black hole observation and the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, are all products of international cooperation.
Each country uses the areas in which it excels to promote cooperation and promote national scientific and technological development and prosperity. The problem is that drastic cuts in R&D budgets may affect existing international cooperation. In fact, the government stopped existing international cooperation research. In the aftermath of R&D budget cuts, the KAIST-Khalifa University Joint Research Center and the Bilateral International Joint Research Center, which served as a focal point for scientific exchange with the Middle East, closed or were unable to continue collaborative research. President-elect Oh said, “If existing international cooperation is suddenly stopped, trust takes a hit,” and added, “Once trust is broken, it takes a long time to recover.”
The Korean government is currently pursuing new international cooperation. President-elect Oh emphasized that UKC and KSEA will serve as a focal point for international cooperation between Korea and the United States. He said, "KSEA's mission is to help Korea," and "We plan to form a committee that will act as a bridge to restore trust in international cooperation and devise strategies to increase the efficiency of international cooperation." The 2024 UKC will be held under the theme of 'Science, technology, and entrepreneurship in the next era using artificial intelligence.' President-elect Oh said, “The topic hidden in addition to the main theme is international cooperation,” and added, “We will make this year’s UKC a venue for international cooperation.” [Reporter Go Jae-won]
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