The path of chemistry in Korea

Abstract

The progress made in the field of nanomaterials chemistry in Korea and the future prospects of this subject is discussed. The growth of industry in South Korea has been remarkable, and has been both mirrored and driven by research in the country. The Korean government opened the first national research institute, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) in Seoul in 1966. This encouraged many researchers to come back home, who had gone for research work to another countries. Subsequent national research institutes such as the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) that were set up had a more specific remit in terms of subjects covered than that of KIST. In 1977, the government established the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) to provide funding for universities, taking the National Science foundation (NSF) in America as a model. The Korean governmental research and development funding has been Select and Focus, which has indicated that the government is keen to progress in areas of chemistry.