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Main Function
To establish the national astronomical Almanac and Korean Standard Time.
To deepen the understanding of the Universe and human beings through wide and detailed telescopic observations and theoretical analysis.
To discover new astronomical phenomena and widen research areas into space science with newly developed astronomical instruments.
To promote international research activities by collaborating with foreign astronomers.
To disseminate the astronomical information for the nation-wide scientific culture.
History
September 1974 Korean National Astronomical Observatory (KNAO) founded.
September 1978 Sobaeksan Optical Astronomy Observatory built at Mt. Sobaek.
December 1985 Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory built at Taejon. March 1986 Institute of Space Science and Astronomy, reformed from KNAO.
October 1991 Korea Astronomy Observatory affiliated to Korea Research Institute of Standard and Science. July 1992 Global Positioning System Station built at KAO.
April 1996 Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory built at Mt. Bohyun.
May 1999 Korea Astronomy Observatory, newly started as an independent research institute.
January 2005 Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Official name changed.
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Korea is one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the world with over five thousand years of history. According to the original creation myth, the world we live in today is the work of the Heavenly Prince Hwanung, whose father was the King of Heaven.The Heavenly Prince asked his father to give him some land to govern, so the Father sent him down to Mount Taebaek. With him the Prince brought the Minister of Clouds, the Earl of Rain and the Chancellor of Wind. They also brought three thousand helpers.Under the shade of a sandalwood tree the Prince founded a holy city called Sinsi, the City of God. He put his Ministers in charge of three hundred and sixty areas of human culture, teaching them to grow crops and to make laws concerning what is good and what is evil.A tiger and a bear living in a nearby cave saw this city and desperately wanted to become human. Every day they came to the sandalwood tree at the center of the city to pray fervently for becoming humans.Hwanung saw their devotion and gave them instructions to remain in the cave and fast for one month, eating nothing but garlic and mugwort. The tiger was too impatient to stand the long and boring days in the cave, so he gave up and left, but Bear maintained the fast. At the end of the month she was transformed into a beautiful woman who became the mother of the Korean people.Her first son was Don-gun, the First King of the Korean people. When Don-Gun passed on the throne to his own son, he became a Mountain God. It is interesting that mountain gods are still worshipped today in Korea.Text by Steve Smith.
