Prof. Gui Nyun Kim, the Director
On 15 September of 2000, the Centre for High-Energy Physics(CHEP) in Korea was formally inaugurated at Kyungpook National University, Taegu.
June of 2000 the CHEP, in which most Korean high-energy physicists participate, was finally approved as one of the designated Excellent Research Centers supported by the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology through its Korea Science and Engineering Foundation.
It was a significant occasion, since Korean high-energy physicists have waited a long time for such a centre to focus and coordinate their research.
To mark the ceremony, Samuel C C Ting, 1976 Nobel Laureate in Physics, delivered a special lecture on "Research directions of high-energy physics in the 21st century". The ceremony also included congratulatory addresses form Han Jung-Kil, vice-minister of Science and Technology, and Rhee Shang-Hi, chairperson of the Science, Technology, Information and Telecommunication Committee of the National Assembly. Representatives of the CMS (CERN) and CDF (Fermilab) collaborations also attended the ceremony.
The CHEP as of 2002, under director Dongchul Son, consists of 20 faculties, 20 physicists and about 80 graduate students from 12 institutions in Korea, and will be supported at least until 2009 years. The centre will initally focus activities on several experiments, including AMS, CMS, CDF and BELLE, in which the Koreans are currently participationg. In coming years it will concentrate on fewer experiments while exploiting domestic ones, and aims to play a more visible role in the world high-energy physics community.
Looking forward to your sincere support for HEP in Korea,
Sincerely yours,