German Ambassador Hans-Ulrich Seidt, right, speaks with Lee Jin-woo, vice president of ADeKo, a German alumni association in Korea, during the conference held at the Millennium Seoul Hilton, last Thursday/ Courtesy of ADeKo


North Korea's Software Technology Said Underestimated

By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter

North Korea"s software development is more competent than one might think, and that is attributed to the reclusive regime"s investment in basic mathematics, a Korean scholar recently said.

Referring to North Korea"s score in the 2009 International Mathematical Olympiad, Park Chan-mo, president of the National Research Foundation said the North"s competence in science shouldn"t be underestimated.

Park made the remarks during a conference, "Paths to an Enhanced and Advanced Society," at the Millennium Seoul Hilton Hotel, last Thursday, organized by Alumninetzwerk Deutschland-Korea (ADeKo), a German alumni association in Korea. Park was invited as the key note speaker.

According to the International Mathematical Olympiad Web site, six North Korean students were ranked fifth overall in the contest held in Germany earlier this year.

South Korea was fourth, with China, Japan and Russia taking the top three spots, respectively.
North Korean students have taken part in the contest six times since 1960. The country was ranked seventh last year and the eighth in 2007.

Park, a former president of Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) called for full-time South Korean experts, who would be committed to map Korea"s future science education and adequate investment.

Hans-Ulrich Seidt, the German ambassador to Korea, during his welcoming speech, mentioned "know yourself" as the most fundamental way to a better society, suggested by the ancient Greek aphorism.

The one-day forum touched upon three topics: freedom of the press and speech in the era of multimedia; the role of science and technology in the globalization process; and economies and financial systems in a time of crisis.

Guests included Korea University President Lee Ki-su; former Keimyung University President Lee Jin-woo; Director of the Pasteur Institute Korea Ulf Nehrbass; and President of POSTECH Baik Sung-gi.

skim@koreatimes.co.kr

[이 게시물은 admin님에 의해 2012-07-18 17:15:50 ADeKo in the News에서 복사 됨]