The National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Korea (Korean: 대한민국학술원), is the senior national organization of distinguished Koreanscientists and scholars. It was founded to promote learning and research in all areas of sciences by conferring membership and preferential treatment to those who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of sciences and learning. The Academy consists of 150 Fellows who are selected by their peers for their contributions to the sciences and education.[1]
The National Academy of Sciences was inaugurated on July 17, 1954, and entrusted with the duty of promoting the development of sciences, and of facilitating the development of national culture. Founded on the legal basis of Culture Protection Act promulgated on August 7, 1952, the National Academy of Sciences initially comprised 50 members.
On March 25, 1954, fifty members were selected from around the nation : twenty-five from the humanities and social sciences, and twenty-five from the natural sciences. Thirty-four years later, on December 31, 1988, the Culture Protection Act of 1952 was replaced by the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Korea Act. The ceiling of membership is 150. The present Academy members total 134 as of June, 2006. These include 62 in the Humanities and Social Science Division and 72 in the Natural Science Division. The members are assigned to 11 sections.
Functions
The specific functions of the National Academy of Sciences include:
Consultation and proposals on national policies related to the promotion of science
Scientific research and support thereof
Domestic and international academic exchanges and organizing academic events
Presentation of the National Academy of Science Awards
Other matters concerning the promotion of the sciences
The National Academy of Sciences Award is an award presented to South Korean nationals who have made significant contributions to academic development through intensive research on a specific topic.[2] Prize money of KRW 100 million is given in addition to the award.[3] The award is given by the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Korea in accordance with Article 14 of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Korea Act[4] and Article 4 of the Academic Academy Prize Award Regulations (학술원상시상규정).[5] The first awards were given in 1955.[6]
