Kwak Si-jong, a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), has been appointed as the next president of the Korea Mathematical Society.
The Korea Mathematical Society noted on the 23rd that Professor Kwak has been elected as the 28th president. His term begins on January 1st of next year and lasts for two years.
Professor Kwak graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in mathematics in 1985 and obtained a master's degree in mathematics from the same university's graduate school. He then received his doctorate from Columbia University in the United States. After working at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Italy and the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Germany, he returned to Korea in 1996 and took up a position at the Research Institute of the Korea Institute for Advanced Study. Since 2000, he has served as a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at KAIST, holding major positions such as dean of the College of Natural Sciences and director of the Science Gifted Education Center. He has also participated in activities for the development of the domestic mathematical community as an editorial committee member for the Journal of the Korea Mathematical Society (JKMS), a committee member for the Basic Technology Professional Committee of the National Science and Technology Council, and a responsible expert for the mathematics field at the National Research Foundation of Korea.
Last year, he was recognized for his contributions to the advancement of support systems in the research and development (R&D) sector through policy research and was awarded the Science and Technology Medal of Honor. Recently, he was also elected a full member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology.
Professor Kwak said, "The competition for scientific and technological supremacy is intensifying, and the role and importance of mathematical sciences are increasing day by day." He added, "I will do my best to achieve a qualitative leap in mathematical science research, to expand its scope, and to re-establish an optimized support system for mathematical science research to cultivate essential personnel for basic science."