Led the localization of domestic pharmaceutical and pesticide ingredients and established the foundation for the fine chemical industry
Led the Ministry of Science and Technology to pursue national policies for the promotion of science and technology in Korea
Yung Bog Chae
Chairman of the Wonjung Research Center (Foundation) Former Minister of Science and Technology
(1937~Present)
- Academic background
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1959
Graduated from the Department of Chemistry at Seoul National University
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1961
Diploma in Chemistry, University of Munich, Germany
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1965
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, University of Munich, Germany
- career
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1969~1978
Head of Organic Synthesis Laboratory, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
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1978~1982
Head of Applied Chemistry Research Division, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
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1982~1993
Director, Korea Institute of Chemical Research
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1994~1995
Chairman of the Korean Chemical Society
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2002~2003
The 4th Minister of Science and Technology
- Awards received
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1976
Order of Civil Merit, Camellia Medal
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2004
Cheongjo Geunjeong Medal
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2006
Ordre National de la Légion d’honneur of France
Dr. Yung Bog Chae is an established scientist and administrator who laid the foundation for Korea's fine chemicals industry and led innovations in science and technology administration.
Born in 1937 in Geumhwa, Gangwon-do, he graduated from Seoul National University in 1959 with a degree in chemistry and was selected as a national scholar at the Atomic Energy Institute by the Syngman Rhee government, through which he earned his doctoral degree in organic chemistry from the University of Munich, Germany. After returning to Korea in 1969, he was appointed the head of the Organic Synthesis Laboratory at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and began researching the localization of pharmaceuticals and pesticides, which were mainly dependent on imports.
In the field of pharmaceuticals, he developed new synthetic methods for the anti-tuberculosis drug Ethambutol, the anthelmintic drug Mebendazole, and cephalosporin-based antibiotics and succeeded in localizing their production. In the field of agricultural chemicals, he developed localized technologies for various original products such as fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. In particular, he developed the methyl isocyanate (MIC) production process for carbamate-based insecticides, a breakthrough technology that helped prevent major accidents such as the Bhopal disaster in India.
Dr. Chae has excelled in his research performances on localization through manufacturing process innovation. He succeeded in synthesizing raw materials for pharmaceuticals and pesticides, which had been protected by multinational corporations, by means of new manufacturing processes. For example, in the synthesis of ethambutol, an anti-tuberculosis drug, although it was difficult to introduce technology from American Cyanamid, he overcame this by developing a new synthesis method using other raw materials. The newly developed technology was transferred to Handok Pharmaceutical, which became the catalyst for the production of the main ingredient in Korean pharmaceuticals. In this manner, his laboratory was responsible for the localization of numerous raw materials for pharmaceuticals and pesticides.
In particular, Able Chemical Technology (ACT), established in Los Angeles in 1984 as a subsidiary of the Korea Chemical Research Institute, was a pioneering attempt by the Korean chemical industry to enter the global market. ACT's strategy was to analyze technology trends in the U.S. and collect market information and provide it to the KIC, which would then select research projects and develop technologies, and then transfer the technologies to companies for export through ACT. Although this organization achieved many successes, it was unfortunately interrupted by political turmoil during the regime change in Korea at the time.
In 1982, he took on the role as the Director of the Korea Chemical Research Institute and established a research system to create new substances in preparation for the advent of the era of material patents. Through joint research with multinational corporations such as the U.S. pesticide producer, Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), and the German pharmaceutical manufacturer, Hoechst, he secured the essential technologies needed to develop new drugs and new pesticides. He also introduced the new industrial concept of ‘fine chemicals; and established a national plan to foster it, thereby laying the foundation for the development of various other relevant industries.
After taking office as the Minister of Science and Technology in 2002, he pursued innovative policies to promote science and technology. He established the University of Science and Technology (UST) to provide a new model for fostering specialized researchers, and attracted the Pasteur Institute of France to establish a global bio-research base in Korea.
Special efforts were also made to develop the Daedeok Research Complex. To solve the problems of researchers' housing and children's education, he promoted housing complexes and school support policies. This laid the foundation for Daedeok in advancing into a world-class research hub.
Dr. Chae's contributions have been widely recognized at home and abroad. He was awarded the Cheongjo Order of Merit (2004) and the Ordre National de la Légion d’honneur of France (2014), as well as the 3.1 Culture Award (1982) and the Camellia Medal of the National Order of Merit (1976). His achievements are summarized in two pillars, namely, the development of Korea's fine chemical industry and innovation in science and technology administration. He played a key role in transforming the import-dependent industrial structure into a self-sustainable model and in elevating the status of imitative R&D to creative R&D.
