자서전
Autobiography of Prof. Heui Jae Pahk
Prof. Heui Jae Pahk received the BSc, MSc degree from the Dept. of Mechanical Design and Production Engineering, Seoul National University, one of the most prestigious universities in Korea and Asia, where he graduated with honors as the top graduate of his class. Then he received the Korean government scholarship award for overseas study, only few in mechanical engineering field were selected based on the very high competitive examination. In 1987, he was admitted and started his PhD study in the manufacturing and machine tool division, mechanical engineering department, UMIST (University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, nowadays, The University of Manchester) at which he was also a recipient of ORS (Overseas Research Scholarship) award from the CVCP (Council of Vice Chancellors and Principals, U.K.), that award was given on the competitive basis of academic performance as well. After three years’ study, he received the PhD degree in 1990, the thesis title was ‘Computer Aided Volumetric Error Calibration of Coordinate Measuring Machine’, supervised by Dr. M. Burdekin. He continued his research career at UMIST, as a postdoctoral research associate to undertake a contract research project from the NPL (National Physical Laboratory) from 1990 to 1991.
On returning to Korea, he started his academic path as an assistant professor in the Dept. of Industrial Engineering, at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) in March 1991, and moved to the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University in September 1993, and promoted to associate professor in 1997, the full professor in 2002. As an active professor and researcher, who was much inspired by theme ‘Practical Contribution to the Industry’ that was learned at the UMIST, he became one of the first pioneering professors to setup a prominent spinoff company from the University, SNU Precision Co.Ltd, in 1998; through which the translation and commercialization are performed from the research activity of his group. As the founder and CEO of the company, that manufactures various measuring equipments for semiconductor and display manufacturing industry, he was very active not only in innovative research, but also in commercializing and entrepreneurship. The company has successfully grown to be a global business player, positioning as a leader in global market, being listed in KOSDAQ stock market since 2005, and hiring over 200 employees. He has become a member (in 2009) and senior member (in 2014) of the National Academy of Engineering in Korea (NAEK), most highly respected membership for scientists and engineers in Korea. Based on his high caliber and career both in the academy and industry, he has served the Korean government as the National CTO (Chief Technology Officer) and President, Office of Strategic Research and Development Planning at the Ministry of Trade Industry and Energy from 2013 to 2017. It is such an honorable and responsible position of minister level in Korean government, in which he was leading the subjects of strategic R&D planning for Universities, Institutes, and Industry in Korea. Also, he has served as the Chairman of the Board of the Youth Hope Foundation from 2016 to Jan 2018, and Chairman of the Korean Association for Industrial Technology Security since 2017.
He has been recognized throughout his career for the contributions to the field. In 2004, he received the Presidential Decoration in recognition of his innovative work in technology, also the recipient of the Global CEO Award by Forbes Korea in 2014, Award of Korea Technology Fast 50 by Ministry of Trade Industry in 2006, IR52 Jang Young Sil Award for technology innovation in 2004 and 2013. He was also recognized as the Role Model by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2006. Seoul National University presented him with an Award of honor for his contribution, and the Gwanak Grand Prix Award by the Alumni Association in 2005. He was also commended with the Award of excellence by the Ministry of Trade Industry on several occasions. Also, he received the Award of Paik-Nam Prize in 2013, that is presented to the most highly praised scholar or entrepreneur every two years, based on the outstanding achievements in technology innovation, translation, and commercialization during his lifetime period. He has been included in the Marquis Who’s Who biography in 2017, and received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for his contribution to the field.
His academic and research activity has resulted in over 200 technical papers on journals or refereed conference proceedings, over 170 patents, and over 100 contract research projects. Over 100 PhD/MSc students are have been graduated under his supervision since 1991.
With these achievement and contribution, he received the Higher Doctorate Degree in Engineering (DEng) from the University of Manchester, UK, in 2019, which is very much honorable that is only given to the very few who contributed significantly to the field and society, after many years of commitment and contribution since the PhD degree award, typically. The title of his higher doctorate (DEng) thesis is ‘A Contribution to Computer Aided Metrology, Precision Optical Inspection, and Machine System Design’ under the supervision of Prof.S.Hinduja.
(His contribution to the field can be summarized into 4 groups: [A]Computer Aided Error Calibration and Engineering Metrology, [B]Precision Optical Inspection and Vision Based Image Processing, [C]Ultra Precision Optical Metrology for Three Dimensional Surface and Thickness, and [D]Design for Precision Machine System)