Dr. Apollo Brought Stars to Heart of Public
By Oh Young-jin
City Editor
The late Cho Kyung-chul, nicknamed "Dr. Apollo," is best remembered for his contribution in bringing astronomy closer to the public.
Cho, who died of heart problems at the age of 81, Saturday, frequently appeared on television, explaining the complex world of science in plain terms, assuming the familiar image of a "neighborhood uncle."
During the televised coverage of the first manned landing on the moon by the crew of U.S. Apollo 11, Cho acted as a commentator and translator for the Korean TV audience, helping viewers here understand the intricacies of the historic moment. Cho studied at Yonsei University and was a longtime professor at Kyunghee University.
However, TV appearances were just a small part of his mission to help Koreans know more about space and the stars ㅡ he authored more than 170 books about science and nature.
To keep up with his avid penmanship, it was his habit to set a daily quota for writing and only going to bed after meeting it, according to his surviving family and colleagues.
A lot of people, from scientists to local dignitaries, have been paying their respects during his five-day memorial service.
"His motto was 'Dream Big,"' said Prof. Kim Sang-ho of Konkuk University, who was one of Cho's many students. "Prof. Cho would tell me, 'I will give all the help I can,' when encouraging his students to take on new, uncertain things."
Yang Sung-woo, an amateur astronomer, recalled that Cho was particularly interested in helping children develop an interest in science, often organizing "star-gazing" field trips for children.
Ko San, a potential cosmonaut, remembered Cho as the person who laid the foundation for Korea's space science, saying, "It is our responsibility to help foster scientists like Cho."