Pohang University of Science and Technology
As Korea's industrialization and modernization unfolded over the last few decades, it became evident that Korea needed self-reliance in science and technology to launch itself into the high technology arena. Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) headed by its founding chairman Tae-Joon Park recognized this necessity and committed themselves to establishing a science and technology research-oriented university. "You can import coal and machines, but you cannot import talent,"
Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) and POSTECH founding chairman Tae-Joon Park. Under the leadership of the first president, professor Hogil Kim, and with the financial support of POSCO, POSTECH quickly became a pioneer among Korean universities in implementing revolutionary administrative, education and research reforms. As a result of pursuing these initiatives, POSTECH was ranked as the leading science and technology university in Asia by Asiaweek in 1998 and has been ranked as the leading university in Korea by JoongAngIlbo for five years from 2002 - 2005, 2007. As a research-oriented university, POSTECH believes in keeping a strong alliance of academics, industry, and research with other industries and research centers, including POSCO and Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (RIST). POSTECH also host many research centers including Korea's only synchrotron radiation facility, the Pohang Light Source; Korea's largest biotechnology research center, the POSTECH Biotech Center; the National Center for Nanomaterials and Technology; and the Korea's only intelligent robot research center, the Pohang Institute of Intelligent Robotics. Furthermore, the world's only Graduate Institute of Ferrous Technology offers the finest education in the specialized area of ferrous technology. Its 3,000 students, 800 researchers and 240 faculty members represent the brightest minds studying and researching on a large 165 hectare campus with state-of-the-art facilities located on the southeastern coast of Korea.
