PEOPLE | SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
KSEA President-elect, recognized for academic exchange in the U.S. Northeast and for developing young scientists
Dr. Ohbong Kwon (권오봉), a professor at New York City College of Technology/CUNY who has worked to build research exchange among Korean-American scientists and to develop the next generation, has received a merit commendation from Korea's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT. The ministry said the commendation recognized Kwon's "significant contributions to the development of Korean science and technology and of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies."
The award was presented on Sept. 30 at the 60th-anniversary ceremony of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies (KOFST, 한국과학기술단체총연합회) at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Seoul. Kwon was the only one of the 10 recipients from an institution outside Korea. He is president-elect of the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA, 재미한인과학기술자협회), the largest organization of Korean scientists and engineers in North America, and takes office next July.
"It is a great honor to receive this commendation on such a meaningful occasion as KOFST's 60th anniversary," Kwon said, adding that the award reflected the work of KSEA members and fellow scientists to expand Korean science globally and to build research and academic exchange between Korea and the United States.
Two terms leading KSEA's New York chapter
Kwon's research covers digital signal processing, digital design and control systems, and he also serves as a director of the Korea-US Science Cooperation Center (KUSCO). He has been a hub for Korean-American scientists, organizing regional gatherings for researchers in academia and industry and connecting young researchers with senior colleagues.
He led KSEA's New York Metropolitan chapter twice, as its 44th president in 2018–2019 and its 48th in 2022–2023, and drove academic exchange in the U.S. Northeast. In 2023 he chaired the KSEA Northeast Regional Conference at Montclair State University in New Jersey.
He has also widened ties with the next generation. In 2022 he hosted a Young Scientists' Night that connected people from universities, research institutes and companies such as Google, Meta and Uber.
From 2023 to 2024, as KSEA's executive vice president, he supported the activities of its 70 chapters and branches across the United States and helped younger members build their networks.
Recipients of the commendation pose on stage. Kwon is third from left and, based on the affiliations shown on screen, the only recipient from an institution outside Korea. Photo: K-EnterTech Hub
The other recipients were Baek Seung-hwa (KOFST), Yu Jang-geol (KOFST Jeju Regional Federation), Choi In-hyuk (Korea Institute for Advanced Study), Jung Min-ju (Korea Institute of Science and Technology), Kwon Jun-pyo (Ajou University), Choi Seon-il (Kangwon National University), Jeong Min-seon (Yonsei University), Cho Jae-beom (Chung-Ang University) and Joo Tae-gyu (Korea University).
KOFST links science communities at home and abroad
The KOFST 60th-anniversary ceremony in Seoul on Sept. 30. Photo courtesy of The K Blossom (더케이블라썸)
At the ceremony, KOFST unveiled a new vision: "a people-centered future, opened together through science and technology." Founded in 1966, KOFST brings together 604 member societies, 13 regional federations and 20 overseas Korean scientist associations in 22 countries. KSEA is the U.S. arm of that overseas network.
KOFST will pursue nine initiatives under three strategies: a stronger policy role, an open platform built on resonance across sectors, and greater public trust in science. Its new "Warm Future Forum" opened with a special dialogue on AI, biotechnology and quantum technology, covering both the technology outlook and the conditions for collaboration, from talent and infrastructure to regulation and research culture.
KOFST president Kwon Oh-nam (권오남) said the federation would connect the voices of researchers to policy and scientific achievements to people's lives.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈) said he hoped KOFST's network would spark new collaboration among industry, academia and research, Yonhap reported that day.
Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon delivers congratulatory remarks. Photo courtesy of The K Blossom (더케이블라썸)
KSEA, founded in 1971, aims to advance Korea–U.S. science and technology cooperation and the career development of scientists and engineers. Its regional conferences and youth events are where that mission is carried out, and KOFST's international cooperation agenda depends on such regional networks continuing to work. KSEA's largest annual conference, UKC, will be held next year (2027) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"I thank my colleagues in the association who have quietly supported this work," Kwon said. "I will keep working as a bridge between the two countries' science communities, and do my best to develop the next generation of scientists and build a practical ecosystem for collaboration."