UNIST Board Chairman Hyun Soon Lee Honored for Distinguished Service in Science and Technology!UNIST News Center

UNIST Board Chairman Hyun Soon Lee, former Vice Chairman of Doosan Group, has been honored for distinguished service in science and technology. Chairman Lee was awarded the Certificate of Distinguished Merit for his lifelong dedication and contribution towards national scientific and technological advancement. The late Honorary Professor Zeung Nam Bien of UNIST has also been awarded the Certificate of Distinguished Merit.

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) held the ‘2022 Sejong Scientists & Engineers Competition’ to honor eight individuals who have recently been designated as persons with a distinguished contribution to the development of a specific area in science and technology via continued R&D and technological innovations. The ceremony took place in the Grand Ballroom of Westin Josun Hotel in Seoul on May 31, 2022. Two each in the following fields of Natural Science, Life Science, Engineering, Convergence‧Promotion have been given the honor. Both Chairman Lee and Late Professor Bien had the distinction of being the ‘Persons of Distinguished Service to Science and Technology’ in the field of engineering.

Dr. Hyun Soon Lee UNIST Board Chairman Hyun Soon Lee, former Vice Chairman of Doosan Group,

Dr. Hyun Soon Lee (Former Vice Chairman of Doosan Group/Former Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motors)

Chairman Hyun Soon Lee of UNIST Board of Directors has been recognized as Korea’s leading automotive engineer who led the domestic development of world-class automotive engines and transmissions. He developed the Alpha engine, the first automotive engine made in Korea via independent development in 1991. This effort greatly contributed to the development of new Alpha engine for small vehicles (1994), Theta I engine (2002), Tau engine (2008), and etc.

He also distinguished himself in the establishment of the basis of world-class corporate research and culture. He turned the Namyang Technology Institute of Hyundai Motors into a globally recognized center offering excellent technologies and R&D personnel.

Chairman Lee assumed important positions, such as President of Hyundai Motors R&D Institute, Vice Chairman of R&D Division, Hyundai Motors, President of Korea Automobile Engineering Society, Chair-Professor of Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York, Korea, Chairman of UNIST, Member of National Science and Technology Advisory Committee, Member of National Science and Technology, Member of National Economy Advisory Committee, etc. After retiring from Hyundai Motors, he served as the Vice Chairman of Doosan Group in the Business Innovation Division, directing new technology development for the group.

(Late) Professor Zeung Nam Bien (Honorary Professor of KAIST/ Honorary Professor of UNIST)

The late Honorary Professor Zeung Nam Bien of UNIST has been recognized for his significant contributions to Korean Robotics research. He was a pioneer in the field of physics-based controls engineering, such as optimization theory, AI robot, fuzzy theory, etc. Not only that, he also greatly contributed to the development of Korea’s first industrial robot and AI robot research.

Professor Bien served for a number of professional societies, domestic and overseas. A member of UNIST faculty since 2009, Bien was a pioneer in the fields of computer science and intelligent system. He was the founding president of the Korea Fuzzy Logic and Intelligent Systems Society during 1990-1995 and also, the general chairs for IFSA World Congress 1993, and for FUZZ-IEEE99, respectively. In 2003, he served as the President of the International Fuzzy Systems Association. Recognized of these merits, he was also appointed as IEEE Fellow as well as IFSA Fellow in 2007.

The distinction of being the ‘Persons of Distinguished Service to Science and Technology’ is bestowed on an individual with distinguished merits in the contribution to national scientific and technological development, among those people in the science and technology area, engaged in R&D and technological innovation activities according to the enforcement decree of the Act on the honorable treatment of, and support for, persons of distinguished service to science and technology (Act No. 13579) enacted on December 22, 2015. Since 2017, the Ministry of Science and ICT has designated a total of 77 individuals with distinguished merits.

Meanwhile, the event was held in both online and offline formats. It has been attended by over 100 guests, including Minister Lee Jongho of Science and ICT and the friends and bereaved families of the recipients of the Persons of Distinguished Service to Science and Technology.