Hong Sung-daes Daughter Becomes SNU Professor
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Hong Jae-hyun, a daughter of Hong Sung-dae, the well known author of a best-selling mathematics reference book in Korea, was appointed an assistant professor at the department of mathematical sciences of Seoul National University (SNU), the university said Monday.
She started lecturing this semester.
Hong entered the department of mathematical sciences of SUN in 1988 and earned her doctor's degree at the same school in Feb. 2000. She also contributed to the state-led ``Brain Korea 21 Project'' as a professor in 2004.
Her appointment drew attention because of her father being Hong Sung-dae.
The senior Hong, 71, is a prominent author who accumulated fame by writing a series of best-selling mathematics reference books.
The reference books, whose first edition was published in 1966, have sold approximately 37 million copies over 41 years in Korea.
Her father also graduated from the mathematics department of SNU.
The senior is the chairman of Sangsan High School located in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.
``She did not give any hint about her father while recruiting processes were underway,'' said Oh Se-jung, dean of College of Natural Sciences. ``She seems to feel a heavy burden in that her father has frequently donated money to SNU and is currently a vice president of SUN alumni.''
We believe that she might even be superior to her father in mathematics, her SNU colleagues said.
The senior Hong left a message in the new edition of the "legendary book" published in 2001 that he was happy to engage in the same field with his daughter.