Chairman Huh Jin-Kyu of the Iljin Metal Corporation is the first
Korean national to receive an honorary doctorate degree from GIST
Chairman Huh (left) receives his honorary doctorate degree from GIST President Seung Hyeon Moon.
In commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of the foundation of the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), a special ceremony conferring an honorary doctorate degree to Chairman Huh Jin-Kyu of the Iljin Metal Corporation was held by GIST on November 26, 2015, at 2:00 pm at Oryong Hall. Conferring the honorary doctorate degree was GIST President Seung Hyeon Moon.
Chairman Huh graduated from Seoul National University in 1968 with a degree in metal engineering. With his entrepreneurial spirit, he then founded the Iljin Metal Corporation, and his company grew and flourished through extensive scientific research and development.
Iljin Metal Corporation went on to develop synthetic diamonds for industrial use and was the first in Korea to develop flexible printed circuit boards as well as the world"s first LCD projection panel. The company has successfully expanded from the domestic to the international marketplace.
In Korea, Iljin Metal Corporation has been the dubbed "the father of entrepreneurial businesses." The company is engaged in various fields related to technology and operates eight research facilities. It has focused on technical development so that it can produce of 90% of its products without having to outsource to other companies.
Chairman Huh of the Iljin Metal Corporation
Former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Sik also attended the ceremony and said, "Chairman Huh is a role model for every student in science and engineering. I really appreciate his indomitable spirit and his passion for developing science and technology to help society. The honorary doctorate degree he is receiving from GIST is truly appropriate."
GIST President Seung Hyeon Moon said: "Chairman Huh, you have given GIST good advice in improving our research competence as well as supporting our relationship with Caltech. I am honored to confer GIST"s first domestic honorary doctorate degree to you."