Scientists in 1966 founded a federation that helped shape Korea's science
In short
- On Sept. 24, 1966, about 200 scientists and engineers from 71 academic societies met in Seoul.
- They founded the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies and elected Kim Yun-gi as first president.
- Their petition asked for a science promotion law and a government agency; two were realized within seven months.
Why the Good News Desk likes this one
Korea had no science ministry and no general science law in 1966. The federation's petition asked for both, and two of its demands were met within seven months. The source is a historical retrospective, so the wider outcome of the 1966 push is not covered here.
From The Korea Times
On Sept. 24, 1966, some 200 scientists and engineers from 71 academic societies gathered at the old Press Center in central Seoul. A black-and-white photograph taken that day shows a banner written in Chinese characters announcing the founding of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies (KOFST), with the national flag behind the lectern. After the national anthem, the order of proceedings included a "Song for the Promotion of Science and Technology." Korea at the time had no ministry overseeing science, nor did it have a general law for promoting science and technology. At...
