“Korea's IT miracle started with a telephone revolution in the early 1980s... when it was believed to be impossible for Korea to develop TDX telephone switching technology...”
He begins his memoirs by saying, “A person's life is like a line consisting of many dots. The line can be crooked or bent or go straight ahead. But no matter how tangled the line is, it seems that there is a last dot that must be reached. This last dot can be called a goal in life, a raison d'etre, or a mission in life for the person.”
In his memoirs, he recounts his experiences as Minister of Transportation, of Construction and Transportation, and of Science and Technology; as a Professor at the Korea Military Academy, as Chairman of the Daejeon EXPO Organizing Committee, as President and Chairman of the Dong-A Ilbo daily, and President of Ajou University. He has been president of Konkuk University since 2006 after he last served as Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology.
He has worked as a Minister or Deputy Prime Minister for five administrations, under which he implemented various long-term national projects including the introduction of color TV, development of TDX, distribution of telephones across the country, development of semiconductor chips, and successful hosting and operation of the Daejeon EXPO.
The Korea IT Times interviewed Dr. Oh to hear about his views about what he has done for the development of IT technology as the key architect of the country's science and technology administration over the past three decades and of what future projects he now thinks.
Q: You have led Korea's development of IT technology over the past 30 years. How do you evaluate your own achievements
A: Korea's communications industry grew fast as a result of the development of TDX telephone switching technology and the automation of telephone circuit switching across the country. I supervised the epoch-making development of the 4 MB RAM chip and the successful operation of information and communications systems for the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
As Vice Minister of Communications in the early 1980s, I focused on installing home telephones throughout the country and developing TDX technology as the first projects to promote Korea's information and communications industry by raising sufficient funds. At the time, TDX technology was so new that only six countries including the United States, Sweden and Belgium had developed the technology, with India and Brazil having failed in this regard.
Everybody looked stunned at the prospect of the project which would cost 24 billion won [US$31 million in 1983]. But I had made up my mind to push for it, given the annual budget of W500 billion [US$645 million in 1983] the government was spending to buy TDX switchboards at that time. I also supervised the introduction of PSTN [public switched telephone network] in March 1983, which made it possible to connect faxes and computers to landline telephones. That was the very beginning of our country's super speed Internet services and data communications.
Q: In addition to the electronics industry, you also helped introduce color TV in 1980. The decision has helped Korean electronics conglomerates prosper later. Tell us about what happened then.
A: Color TV was introduced to Korea 20 years later than Japan due to the public concerns about the possible privileged treatment of electronic home appliance manufacturers. Some people were also worried about the possibility of alienating rural and fishing villages, many of which didn't have even black and white TVs, from urban areas.
I believed then that Korea's electronics industry lagged far behind even Taiwan's, because there existed no color TV market in the country and, therefore, related industries, such as TV components and raw materials industries, were in recession. But after the color TV was introduced, a color revolution took place, and consumers began to have a different consumption pattern, and related industries, including foods, cosmetics and fashion, began to develop. As a result, Korea was able to overcome sluggishness in domestic business and its economy gained momentum.
But it's sad to see the country give up top place in the IPTV market to foreign countries such as France, even though we were the first in the world to develop it. It's worse to delay something for a long time than to make a wrong choice.
Q: You're considered the pioneer of Korea's IT revolution. What do you think of the country's level of IT technology and what should Korea do to further develop it
A: Some time ago, US President Barack Obama announced an IT plan for his country which envisages providing each home with 100 mbps Internet services by 2012. But Korean homes are already using such services, which means that Korea is far ahead of the United States as far as Internet speed is concerned. Korea is now preparing to introduce 1 gbps Internet services by 2012, about 10 times faster than the United States in this regard. Korea is now endowed with huge amounts of IT infrastructure, such as the nationwide optical network and the world's first WiBro technology.
Q: You've recently published your memoirs titled Dream about Korea 30 Years Later, which carries messages for the younger generation, based on your own experiences. What do you say in the book
A: I wanted to recount my own experiences as a man of science, an administrator, and an educator. This is a story about Korean fathers and mothers who were busy working day and night, thinking of Korea 30 years later. They built Korea as a country with brilliant achievements from a barren land. Now it is the younger generation's turn to do the same. They should think hard of what legacy they can hand down to their descendants 30 years later. They should turn Korea into a country with a US$40,000 per capita GNP and top-notch technology, and the world's leading tech-savvy country.
Today, everybody is suffering unprecedented economic difficulties, but there will be no development if there is no adversity. In the book, I tried to recount my experiences and display my own knowhow with hopes that Korea will wisely cope with the current difficulties and grow out of them and become stronger.
We should believe in Korea's potential. Faith will bring pride, and pride will invoke a sense of mission. We're afraid of nothing because we have three valuable assets -- strong IT infrastructure, state-ofthe- art science and technology, and Koreans' ardent enthusiasm for education.
Q: Since you were inaugurated as president, what changes have you brought to Konkuk University And what special plans do you have to develop the school
A: Konkuk University has developed significantly since the school set a goal to join the group of the five most prestigious private universities in Korea by 2011, the 80th anniversary of the school's founding. As a result of recruiting about 100 young professors every year, 56 percent of the entire faculty are younger-generation professors who have joined the faculty since 2000 and Konkuk has now become known as the nation's fastest growing school.
Konkuk is a leader in the field of interdisciplinary studies, which are essential for future generations. It has also been given assignments by the government in six projects, such as the development of next-generation physics-based electronic memory materials, as a prerequisite to becoming a world-class university. It's also carrying out large-scale national projects in the fusion technology sector, including digital content and research on technology for the digital fashion industry. The school is also focusing on fostering the bioengineering and aviation and space sectors in which Konkuk is traditionally strong.
Q: It seems that Konkuk is implementing many joint projects with overseas research teams, isn't it
A: What is noteworthy is that Konkuk University is seeking internationalization of its research network. We've invited three Nobel Prize winners as professors and opened the KU Global Lab. Chairman Erkki Leppavuori of VTT Technical Research Center of Finland visited our school a few days ago. Konkuk and VTT established a joint lab last year to develop new technologies in the IT industry, including a next-generation display. In addition, we've begun joint research with Eurocopter, the world's largest helicopter manufacturer. We'll soon announce a joint research project between Konkuk and a German institute.
I'm certain that our research capacity will increase to the level of advanced countries through such joint research projects and that world-class research results will be produced in our country sooner or later. It's important to concentrate national R&D investments on universities. There will be a virtuous cycle of R&D investments and development if the government makes efficient investments in universities to increase their research capacity and universities, in turn, respond by producing magnificent research results.
