Recap of Celebrating the life and career of KSEA 1st President Shoon Kyung Kim and KSEA 50 Years

The remembrance event for the 20^th anniversary of the passing of KSEA 1^st President was held over the Zoom at 8pm US EDT, Tuesday, March 14, 2023. It was an excellent occasion to celebrate the life and career of the Late Professor Shoon Kyung Kim who was the founding President of KSEA and at the same time reflect the half-century old history of KSEA, the publication of which was entitled “KSEA 50 Years”.

The incumbent 51^st President Young-Kee Kim made brief introductory remarks and played a short video clip `대한민국과학기술유공자’ provided by the Korean Academy of Scientist and Technology (KAST) to honor the life and career of Late Professor Shoon Kyung Kim. The 13^th President Chan-Mo Park who worked closely with the founding President Shoon Kyung Kim presented his tribute talk reflecting the establishment of KSEA founded on December 11, 1971 with 69 founding members and the credentials of the Late Professor Shoon Kyung Kim. The 13^th President Chan-Mo Park’s tribute to the Late Professor Shoon Kyung Kim is separately published in this issue of the newsletter.

Then, the program entitled “KSEA: 50년의 땀 100년의 꿈” continued to review and discuss the achievements and future perspectives.

First, the first 25 years of KSEA were reviewed by the 25^th President Ki Dong Lee, reflecting the beginning of KSEA, KSEA’s contribution to modernization of the fatherland, contributions to Korean communities and stories behind acquiring the Korea-US Science Center building and current KSEA headquarter (HQ) offices.

Then, the 28^th President Thomas Hahn reviewed the demographic changes of KSEA over the last 25 years, concluding an overall increase in KSEA membership with more increases in undergraduates, women, ladder faculty, south and west area.

Next, the author of this article presented the second 25 years of KSEA and beyond, in particular reviewing the roadmap of our journey for the publication of the history book “KSEA 50 Years”, celebrating the founding President Shoon Kyung Kim’s achievements. The recent 25 years may be categorized into the periods of Endurance(26^th-30^th), Rebound(31^st-35^th), Growth(36^th-40^th), Stabilization(41^st-45^th), Transition(46^th-50^th) and beyond Breakthrough(51^st-…). Since the history book task force kickoff meeting was held at KSEA-HQ on February 16-17, 2019, the roadmap up to the “Book Fest” on December 17, 2021 celebrating the publication of “KSEA 50 Years” was highlighted. The Late Professor Nak Ho Sung (KSEA 30^th President) whose memorial service was held just ten days ago (March 4, 2023) was remembered for his collegial faithful contributions from the beginning to the end of the book preparation and publication both in the Editorial Board and the History Committee. The invariance of the altruistic spirit for the entire history of KSEA is remarkable and offers the key principle for the bright future of KSEA.

Finally, the 35^th President Sung-Kwon Kang recollected his acquaintance with the Late Professor Shoon Kyung Kim briefly and reviewed the last quarter century history of KSEA by statistics of income vs. expenditure, membership, chapter growth, etc. He remarked that it is a critical time to discuss among all members what should be our new organizational visions for the coming 50 years and emphasized the original founding philosophy of Korea, i.e., the idea of 홍익인간 (弘益人間), to broadly benefit the human world.

After the talks by the four Former Presidents, the incumbent President Young-Kee Kim introduced Mrs. Jeung Hi Kim, widow of the Late Professor Shoon Kyung Kim, and her families, who were present in the audiences: Matt Kim (son), Hae-Won Kim (elder daughter), Linda Kim (younger daughter) and Jeff Mentch (grandson). They were invited to join this event by the 21^st President Kun Sup Hyun.

The future of KSEA was discussed not only with the perspective from mid-careers by New Jersey Chapter President Hyojin Kim, but also with the perspective from early career by Next Generation Director Jonathan Kim, who participated in the publication team for the ‘KSEA 50 Years’ book with Administrative Associate Jahae Yun. Administrative Associate Jahae Yun served as the Editorial Board Assistant for the KSEA 50 Years book. A stronger support system for the mid-career members was requested, and more personal networking with the younger generation members was suggested for the future development of KSEA.

After the official program, the Zoom meeting continued with many greetings from the participants to Mrs. Kim and family of the Late Professor Shoon Kyung Kim. The 25^th President Saeyoung Ahn shared his summary on the Late Professor Shoon Kyung Kim’s professional activities. In particular, the book entitled “Group Theoretical Methods and Applications to Molecules and Crystals” authored by the Late Professor Shoon Kyung Kim was highlighted, and his influence and contribution at the Bi-Annual Statistical Mechanics meetings during 1969-1980 was appreciated.

It was impressive and meaningful to celebrate the life and career of KSEA 1^st President Shoon Kyung Kim (1920-2003) on his birthdate March 14 and reflect the history of KSEA 50 Years discussing the future prospects of KSEA.