Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

w
w
w.
ko
fa
c.r
e.k
r

r
e.k
c.r
fa
ko
w.
w
w

A First Mover Who Leads Change

KOFAC
Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

A World-class Organization to Promote

Public Understanding of Science & Creativity

KOFAC
509 Yeoksamro(960-12, Daechi-3Dong), Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 135-847, Korea tel.+82-2-559-3855 fax.+82-2-555-2355

Contents

03 Prologue

BetterWorld,BrighterFuture
with Science and Creativity
In a world saturated with questions,
the wisdom of mankind is desperately needed more than ever before!

04 Message from the President

The Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity

(KOFAC) commits itself to creating a better tomorrow for the global

06 Mission and Vision

community with a new hope by science, creativity,

communication, and convergence.

08 Researches and Activities

26 Social Contribution
28 History of KOFAC

The Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity (KOFAC) is committed to advancing public understanding of
science, communication of scientific issues, creativity / character education and convergent human resources development.

Message from the President

Openness, innovation, convergence,

and creativity are the zeitgeist
of the 21st century

Established as the Association for Supporting Science and Technology

in 1967 and renamed as the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of
Science and Creativity (KOFAC) in September, 2008, KOFAC has devoted
itself to promotion of public understanding of science and development
of creative human resources as a national R&D institute designated by the
Korean government.
In this rapidly globalized world, Korea is determined to be a First Mover
who leads change rather than a Fast Follower who seeks to catch up
leading countries. To be a First Mover, nurturing human resources with
convergent mind is the essential task the nation should deal with first and
foremost.
In this regard, KOFAC, a leading think tank to lead science culture and
creativity education, is committed to advancing its activities and operation,
based upon the achievements for the past 40 years in public understanding
of science, math and science education programs, and human resources
development activities. Furthermore, employees and staff of KOFAC
pledge to endeavor to realize its mission of Creative Society based on
Science.
We look forward to your continued support and encouragement on our
journey.

Hye-Ryun Kang, Ph.D.

President
Korea Foundation for
the Advancement of Science and Creativity

04 +05

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

Mission and Vision

KOFAC does its best to strengthen research planning,

promote paradigm shift of convergence, and advance
contents to achieve its mission and vision.

Mission

Establishment of creative
society based on science

Vision
World-class organization
to advance public
understanding of science
Secure competitive
Foster science culture
and creativity
edge in public
organization
management

based on participation
and sharing

KOFAC is committed to being a world-class

organization to advance public understanding of
science and creativity for establishing creative
society based on science

l
G

Promoting public
understanding of
science

Create a comprehensive
system for creative human
resources development

Increasing public
science literacy

n d

L o n g

Cultivating
creative human
resources and
gifted students

T e

Expanding
infrastructure
for creativity,
convergence, and
communication

Establishing
performance-based
operation process

Five Strategic Objectives

06 +07

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

Researches and Activities

Better world, brighter future

with science and creativity
Increasing public science literacy, facilitating convergence
and communication by breaking down the barriers, and
nurturing creative global leadership, talent in science, and
technology - these are the goals KOFAC pursues.

Researches and Activities

Public Understanding of Science

Create a better world

based on science

Creativity / Character Education Development

Nurture global human talent

through Creativity / Character
Education

Offer enjoyable science programs

Deliver science news and information
Support fun and easy science education
Award prizes and certifications
Build a global science culture

Strengthen Creativity / Character Education

Provide informations for creative activities
Spread educational contributions
Develop green growth education
Empower teachers and distribute resources

Communication Between Scientific Issues

Encourage public science literacy

and establish a creative and
innovative society
Promote advanced research of the science culture
Increase public understanding of scientific issues
Build a convergent science culture
Develop communication and convergence content

Convergent Human Resource Development

Cultivate global experts for

science and technology
in a systematic infrastructure
Lead STEAM education
Enrich mathematics and science education
Develop mathematics and science textbooks
Support students talented in science to become global leaders

Researches and Activities 1

Create a better world based on science

KOFAC is committed to disseminating scientific knowledge and information
through media such as TV, Internet, and newspapers. Improving accessibility to
science leads to science culture and creative society.

Public Understanding of Science

Offer enjoyable science programs
Facilitate science and technology communication
Support fun and easy science education for youth
Award prizes and certification
Support private science culture activities and international cooperation

01

Offer enjoyable science programs

Korea Science Creativity Festival
As Koreas largest science event annually hosted since 1997,
the Festival is aimed at increasing public interest in science and
broadening scientific knowledge by providing an opportunity to
have hands-on activities of science.

Regional Science Fair

For balanced science culture development in regions, the Fair
is co-hosted with local governments to offer local students an
opportunity to have hands-on activities of science.

Family Science Festival

A series of science events are held in April to encourage family
participation in enjoyable and fun hands-on activities of science.

Christmas Science Concert

Exciting special lectures on science are presented in the form of
concert that combines science and arts.

10 +11

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

Researches and Activities 1

02

04

Facilitate science and technology communication

Science All (www.scienceall.com)

Korea's Promising Future Leaders Award

This is a portal science website aimed at increasing public interest in

science, broadening knowledge and sharing information about science
and technology.

The Award is to cultivate future leaders with creativity and define the right
idea on capabilities and knowledge.

The Science Times (www.sciencetimes.co.kr)

The system is aimed at certifying and recommending good science books

published in Korea to give readers easy access to quality science books.

Certification for Good Science Books

It is an online newspaper designed to promote public interest in science

and encourage information sharing on social and scientific issues.

Science Teacher Award

Science TV (www.sciencetv.kr)

This is to boost science teachers morale by commending their contribution

to fostering science culture at education institutions.

As Koreas first 24 hour science channel, it broadcasts programs in

a variety of genres, including documentaries, dramas, shows and
entertainment.

03

Award prizes and certifications

Korea Science Culture Award

The Award is to pay tribute to those, including individuals, companies and
organizations, who have contributed to promoting public understanding of
science and encouraging their social activities.

Support fun and easy science education for youth

05

Hands-on Science Class

The Class is run by 720 town offices and KOFAC provides support to give
local students and parents easy accesses to science.

Support private science culture activities and

international cooperation

Science Ambassador

Support for Private Science Culture Activities

KOFAC appointed 1,500 scientists and experts as Science Ambassador and

supports their science lectures at schools and related organizations.

KOFAC selects and supports effective projects to encourage private sectors

participation in science culture projects and diversify science culture subjects.

Youth Science Club (YSC)

Support for Establishment of Local Science Museum

KOFAC supports 13,000 Youth Science Clubs in the nation and fosters an
environment to help students on/offline science activities.

KOFAC is committed to expanding science culture infrastructure in

underdeveloped areas and promoting local science culture by assisting
establishment of science museums in cities with population of less than 200,000.

College Volunteering for Science Education

College students volunteer to support science experiment and education
programs in underdeveloped areas and at local childrens centers.

Korea Science Creativity Festival

International Cooperation
KOFAC has established global networks and pursued international cooperation
with the counterparts in developed countries to spread science culture and
nurture creative human resources.

Hands-on Science Class

Science Book Fair

Experience of Foreign Advanced Science Education

12 +13

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

Researches and Activities 2

KOFAC strives to increase public science literacy

and establish a creative and innovative society
KOFAC is committed to increasing public science literacy and understanding of global
issues by identifying scientific issues and through vigorous communication. Moreover,
KOFAC aims at establishing creative society based on interaction, cooperation, and
convergence of science and technology, humanities and arts.

Communication between Scientific Issues

Promote advanced researches on science culture
Increase public understanding of global issues
Build convergent science culture with humanities and arts
Develop contents for communication and convergence

14 +15

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

Researches and Activities 2

01

03

Promote advanced researches of the science culture

Researches on science culture
KOFAC has conducted researches on public understanding of science and
technology, contemporary science culture, and science culture trends at
home and abroad to lay the foundation of science culture activities.

Venue for Convergence and Communication

KOFAC provides venues to discuss creative convergence through
exchange and cooperation among experts from science and technology,
humanities, and culture and arts.

Foresight programs for future STS studies

KOFAC supports Foresight Programs for Future STS Studies, dedicated
to research on science culture, identifing a science culture model,
and spurring research activities.

02

Build a convergent science culture

with humanities and arts

Convergence Festival of STEAM

KOFAC hosts science convergence festival that provides hands-on
activities with science and creative convergence culture.

04

Increase public understanding of global issues

Develop contents for communication and convergence

Campaign to increase public understanding of global issues

Support for Convergence Culture

KOFAC promotes public understanding of science-related global issues

including climate change, energy, food, disease, water, environment,
nuclear power plant, and tsunami through campaigns, lectures and media
publicity.

KOFAC supports creative projects to facilitate convergence and exchange

activities between science and technology and other fields, such as
creative convergent performance, visualization of science, and science
storytelling.

Research on changes in the future society

KOFAC has raised capabilities to respond to changes by researching into
the future society to be created by advanced science and technology.

Special Lectures by Nobel Laureates

2040 Future Science Experience

Science Exploration Discussion

Creative convergent performance

16 +17

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

Researches and Activities 3

KOFAC nurtures global talented human resources

through creativity / character education
KOFAC lays the foundation to cultivate creative human resources through
creativity / character education, development, and dissemination of creativity
programs, and promotion of creative resources, while fostering an environment
to nurture creative human resources by encouraging educational contribution.

Creativity / Character Education Development

Strengthen creativity / character education
Provide information for creative activity
Spread educational contributions throughout society
Develop Green Growth Education
Empower teachers and distribute resources

01

Strengthen creativity / character education

Plan to Nurture Creative Human Resources
KOFAC has conducted policy researches and designed new
education environment programs to develop creative human
resources at the national level.

Support model schools and study groups for

creativity / character education
By selecting model schools for creativity / character education,
KOFAC encouraged them to share their teaching skills and best
practices with other schools. Moreover, KOFAC supports teachers
study groups to develop effective teaching methods.

Operate creativity / character education headquarters and

arrange creativity / character education forum
KOFAC runs local creativity / character education headquarters
(3 colleges as of 2011) for effective support, including training
programs and consulting services, as part of nationwide
creativity / character education campaign, along with forums to build
educators capabilities and raise their awareness.

18 +19

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

Researches and Activities 3

02

04

Provide information for creative activities

Develop and distribute creative programs and resources

Develop Green growth education for elementary and junior high

school students

KOFAC develops and distributes diverse programs involving museum,

art gallery, and science center to support creative activities.

KOFAC secures and facilitates green growth education system by developing

training programs for educators, education courses, and teaching materials.

Run Creativity / Character Education Net (www.crezone.net)

Strengthen international cooperation for green growth education

Apart from teaching materials for Creativity / Character education,

KOFAC provides information on extracurricular activities and educational
contributions.

03

Develop green growth education for students

KOFAC strengthens global collaboration by joining global movement toward

green growth, running teachers study groups, pursuing cooperation projects
with international organizations for green growth education, and promoting
Koreas green growth programs.

Spread educational contributions throughout society

05

Promote educational contributions

KOFAC promotes educational contributions that provides physical or
human resources owned by individuals, institutes, or organizations to
primary and secondary schools without expecting compensation

Empower teachers and distribute resources

Develop and operate creative training curriculum
KOFAC engages in training program development including creative convergence,
policy measures, hands-on activities, and green future to equip educators who
emphasize communication for future society with creative and convergent mind.

Create archives of creative and convergent resources

KOFAC develops and distributes creative training programs and resources to be
utilized at the national level.

Creativity / Character Education Net

Creative hands-on activities

Green growth education for school students

Creative teachers training

20 +21

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

Researches and Activities 4

KOFAC cultivates global experts

on science and technology by establishing
systematic infrastructure
It is a very important task of our time to develop students talent in science and technology.
To nurture human resources equipped with creative and convergent mind,
it is essential to providing them with advanced education and opportunities.
KOFAC, in this regard, has conducted education support projects for students gifted and talented.

Convergent Human Resources

Lead STEAM education
Develop math and science courses and class materials
Authorize and certify math and science textbooks
Research and support education for

01

students gifted and talented

Lead STEAM education

R&D on STEAM education and course models
KOFAC systemizes theories about STEAM education and suggests its
application by defining principles of STEAM education, developing
customized measures for each school or class and searching for efficient
course models.

Intensive course for students in science and technology

KOFAC develops STEAM-related intensive courses for high school students
in science and technology with their future academic career in sight.

Creation of pioneer group

KOFAC draws up and promotes Korean STEAM education through training
programs, monthly workshops and seminars led by teachers study groups
and schools offering honors program to accelerate implementation of
convergent human resources education.

Establishment of support system

KOFAC develops training systems for educators and science course models
to increase students interest and raise learning efficiency.
Moreover, KOFAC offers outreach programs in which students could have
hands-on activities with science and technology and STEAM partnership
program in which experts could support education institutions.

22 +23

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

Researches and Activities 4

02

03

Develop math and science courses and class materials

Promote measures to make math and science education substantial

Raise quality of math and science textbooks

KOFAC deals with diverse tasks such as creating education adjustment

framework, improving math and science education course and contents,
broadening expertise of math and science teachers, facilitating partnerships
and upgrading education environment.

KOFAC develops measures and strategies for quality control of math and
science textbooks, such as monitoring national textbooks authorized and
certified, and enhancing textbook deliberation process.

Certify and authorize math and science textbooks

KOFAC implements deliberation and review on textbook certification

and authorization process so that creative and quality math and science
textbooks could be used in education institutes.

Develop math and science education course and textbooks

KOFAC develops math and science education courses and textbooks

which are easy and fun for students to learn and could stimulate their creativity
and inquiring mind.

04

KOFAC fosters an education environment for talented students, on the basis of

policy studies on education for talented students, school admission process
improvement, development and dissemination of convergent education
programs, and upgraded curriculum and training programs for educators and
admission officers.

Ajou University, Yonsei University, Seoul National University of Education,

Kyungwon University, Daejin University

02 Cheongju National University of Education

03 Kongji National University, Chungnam National University
04 Chonbuk National University, Kunsan National University
05 Chonnam National University,

07

10

15

01

23

12

Sunchon National University, Mokpo National University

Kangwon National University, Kangnung-Wonju National University
Kyungpook National University, Andong National University

Support science-core high schools with innovative education courses

11

Jeju National University

KOFAC arranges intensive math and science courses in general high schools to
cultivate human resources equipped with knowledge of humanities as well as
science.

24
02

Kyungnam University, Pusan National University, University of Ulsan,

29

Kyeongsang National University, Changwon National University

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

Support customized math and science class system (Subject classroom

system)

Gyeonggibuk Science High School

HansungSejong Science High School

08

03

Incheon Science High School

14

13

Chungnam Science High School

16

26

Kangwon Science High School

22

04

Kyeongbuk Science High School

18

Daegu Il Science High School

19
21

Gyeongsan Science High School

Ulsan Science High School
Busan Science High School

25

27

Korea Science Academy of KAIST for the GIFTED

20
09

05

Daegu Science High School for the GIFTED

Seoul Science High School for the GIFTED

28

Gyeonggi Science High School for the GIFTED

Gyeongnam Science High School, Changwon Science High School
Gwangju Science High School

06

Science-core high school

Support college-affiliated education institutions for gifted science

students

KOFAC searches for gifted students and implements basic, intensive, and
convergent education by utilizing college research centers and human resources
to expand the basis to nurture students' talent.

Support science high schools and science schools for the gifted

KOFAC supports admission process improvement of science high schools and

science schools for the gifted, research activities by students and teachers and
experiment-oriented researches.

Support International Science Olympiad

Jeonbuk Science High School

Chungbuk Science High School

KOFAC supports schools offering math and sciences courses that are customized
to reflect each students capability and distinctiveness of math and science.

17

Daejeon Science High School

Chonnam Science High School

Research and support education for gifted students

Improve education policy studies and system for talented students

01 Seoul National University, University of Incheon,

06
07
08
09

Authorize and certify math and science textbooks

30

KOFAC supports participation and holding of International Science Olympiad in

Korea where talented secondary school students compete and exchange with
their rivals so as to assist those gifted students to be global leaders.

Jeju Science High School

Science education institutes for the GIFTED(Global Institute For Talented Education)
School for GIFTED students

Science high school

Ceremony for Korean National Team for International Olympiad

College-affiliated science education center for the GIFTED

24 +25

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

Social Contribution

Efforts to reduce science culture gap

Firmly committed to creating

a better community
KOFAC has made sincere and strenuous efforts to close science culture gap
between regions and classes by offering youth in remote, underdeveloped regions,
and underprivileged class opportunities to gain hands-on science activities.

01
02
03

College volunteering for Science Education

This is aimed at promoting interest in science among youth in underprivileged class
by offering them hands-on science programs. Also, this is a good opportunity for the
volunteers to teach children what they are majoring in.

Science book donation (Science book start campaign)

KOFAC donates science books for underprivileged students to eliminate knowledge
gap in science and technology

Support Private Science Culture Activities

In an attempt to reduce the gap between regions and classes in science and technology,
KOFAC supports civic groups activities, distributes science books for individuals with
disabilities, and runs Hands-on Science Classes for multicultural families at local
childrens center.

26 +27

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

History of KOFAC

KOFAC embodies the spirit of openness,

innovation, convergence, and creativity.

2011

Since its foundation as the Association for Supporting Science and Technology in 1967,
it has made strenuous efforts to promote public understanding of science and
expand science culture. With the launch of the Ministry of Education, Science,
and Technology in 2008, the Association was reorganized as the Korea Foundation for the
Advancement of Science and Creativity to respond to the needs of our time,
furthermore, designated as a national R&D institute by the Korean government in 2011.

2008

2011
Designated as a national
R&D institute by the Korean
government

1967
1967
Established as the Association
for Supporting Science and
Technology by the Ministry of
Science and Technology

1972
1972
Reorganized as the Korea
Foundation for the Advancement
of Science and Technology
1973
National Science Campaign was
launched
1992
Designated as a dedicated public
organization for promoting public
understanding of science in
accordance with the Promotion
of Science and Technology Act

1996
1996
Reorganized as
the Korea Science Foundation
1997
The Foundations operation
was officially stated in the
Special Law for the Science and
Technology Development

2008
The Korea Foundation for the

Advanced Science and Creativity

(KOFAC) was reorganized
The Ministry of Education and
Human Resources Development
was reorganized as the Ministry
of Education, Science, and
Technology
KOFAC was expanded in
accordance with revised
Framework Act
on Science and Technology

2001
The operation and goal of the
Foundation were officially stated
in the Framework Act on Science
and Technology
2004
Science Korea Campaign was
launched
Designated as a governmentaffiliated institution governed
by the Framework Act on the
Management of GovernmentAffiliated Institutions

28 +29

Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity

As a First Mover who lead change,

KOFAC is committed to advancing public
understanding of science, communication of
scientific issues, creativity / character education,
and convergent human resources development.
Developed Partnerships
2011. 08

Universcience, France / La main la pte, France / Science Festival Belgrade, Serbia /

China Science and Technology Museum /
Beijing Association for Science and Technology(BAST), China
for invitation to the Korea Science Creativity Festival

2011. 06

Nottingham Trent University(NTU), UK

for cooperation meeting on public understanding of science and creativity

2010. 12

Universcience, France
for collaboration in public understanding of science and creativity

2009. 11

National Science Museum of Korea (NCM) and Intel Korea Ltd.

for global capacity building of STEM education through joint creation and
sustainment of Asia-Pacific Regional Science Educators Academy

2009. 11

National Science Learning Centre (NSLC), UK

for collaborative activities in science education and public understanding of science

2009. 06

Nottingham Trent University (NTU), UK

for collaborative activities in public understanding of science

2009. 05

China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and

Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
for collaborative activities in science communication and public understanding of science

2008. 03

Beijing Association for Science and Technology(BAST)

for the Korea Science and Creativity Award at BYSCC

2006. 10

The French Ministry of Education, Science and Research

for Science Exploration in Seoul

2006. 05

Cite Des Science et de Lindustrie

for joint cooperation in the field of science exhibitions, science education,
cyber museum techniques, and exchanges of information

2005. 01

Institute Pasteur, Paris

for Science Exploration in Paris

2004. 12

The Royal Institution of Great Britain and the British Counsil Korea
for co-sponsoring the KSF-RI Christmas Lecture

2002. 12

China Association for Science and Technology(CAST)

for co-hosting international programs and activities, etc

2002. 09

Korean National Commission for UNESCO

for joint cooperation in the field of public understanding of science and
exchanges of information

2001. 05

Exploratorium, USA
for participation in the Summer Teacher Institute Program

How to collaborate
To collaborate and build an innovative partnership with KOFAC,
you can participate in KOFAC programs or invite us to take part
in your program as well as can develop distinguished exchange
programs together. Please refer to our work and contact us with
specified area of work you are interested in.
Consultation & Inquiries
Please contact us at below address.
Tel
+82 2 559 3855
Fax
+82 2 555 2355
Email international@kofac.re.kr