President Park Called High-Tech Enthusiast

The late President Park Chung Hee was known for his interest in developing high- technology in Korea.

A number of hand-written notes and letters demonstrating Mr. Park's enthusiasm for science were shown to the public for the first time Saturday as the Korea Institute of Science and Technology opened a memorial to Choi Hyung-sup, the first head of the institute, to commemorate its 35th anniversary. Mr. Choi was a leading scientist in South Korea in the 1960s and 1970s.

He had a reputation of pouring a firm foundation for science and technology in the country as the head of the institute and as science minister during the Park Chung Hee administration.

In a letter written a year before he was assassinated, Mr. Park instructed Mr. Choi to follow the lead of China in building the study of science in Korea.

"We should learn from China," the late president wrote. "It is actively trying to attract Chinese scientists abroad to improve the level of science in China."

Mr. Choi reminisced in his memoirs that "President Park visited the institute every three months to encourage researchers."

He did not go to the open- ing ceremony for the "Choi Hyung-sup Memorial" saying he felt ietoo embarrassedln to attend.

by Park Bang-ju