By Cho Jae-hyon
Staff Reporter
A renowned mathematics scholar has donated most of his wealth, which he saved over the course of about four decades, to the Korea Institute for Advanced Study (KIAS), the institute specialized in basic sciences that he has led for more than two years.
KIAS President Myung Hyo-chul 72, has signed a written pledge to donate 300 million won ($250,000) to the institute, a KIAS spokesperson said.
The donation came about two months after he was diagnosed with cancer in July.
The scholar, who is battling the disease, hopes the donated money will be spent to nurture his pupils studying basic sciences.
It is the money he saved while teaching for about 30 years in the United States and 10 years here. The amount represents all of his wealth except for a small 20-pyeong apartment. "I had no time to amass wealth as I spent my whole life doing research," he told The Korea Times. "Our institute has been making all out efforts to invite world-class scholars and expand in size."
He states KIAS is taking the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) at Princeton as a role model. IAS is one of the most renowned and respected centers of intellectual inquiry in the world and was the academic home of Albert Einstein, who served on the faculty.
Myung stated that the basic sciences need greater attention. "Korea, from a long-term perspective, needs to invest more in basic sciences rather than concentrating investment in applied sciences," he said.
He expressed strong will to return to his office at the institute, saying, "I have a lot of things to do to make KIAS a truly world-class institute."
Despite his battle against the disease, Myung is undertaking some major official work from his hospital bed at the Kyung Hee University Hospital in northern Seoul.
At the end of last month, he signed a strategic accord calling for the institute to provide support and cooperation in research activities with the Korean Women in Mathematical Sciences.
"With this alliance, KIAS will actively cooperate with female scientists to make inroads into the global arena," he said.
After graduating from Seoul National University, he went to the United States in 1966 and attained a Ph.D in mathematics at Michigan State University.