Draft:Sang-Dai Park

Sang-Dai Park (August 20, 1937 ~ April 20, 2024) is a biologist and an honorary professor of Seoul National University

== Academic Background ==


 * 1956~1960 B.S., College of Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences, Seoul National University
 * 1960~1962 M.S., Dept. of Zoology, Graduate School, Seoul National University
 * 1970~1974 Ph.D. in Science, Dept. of Biology, St. John's University
 * 1974~1976 Post-doc Research Fellow, University of California in San Francisco

Career

 * 1967~2002 Professor, Seoul National University
 * 2002~ Member, Vice President, Honorary Member of National Academy of Sciences
 * 2002~ President, Advisor, Chief Advisor of Korean Association of Sponsors for International Vaccine Institute (IVI)
 * 2003~2006 Chairman, Korea Research Council of Fundamental Sciences
 * 2011~2014 President, Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies

Award

 * 1987 First Korea Science Award
 * 2002 Order of Service Merit Green Stripes
 * 2014 Order of Science and Technology, Changjo Medal

Life and Achievements
Professor Sang-Dai Park spearheaded research and education in Korean molecular biology and genetic engineering. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in founding related societies and academic journals, thus contributing significantly to the globalization of Korean bioscience and establishing himself as a pioneering molecular cell biologist.

He completed his undergraduate and master's studies at the Department of Zoology, College of Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences, Seoul National University. In 1974, he earned his Ph.D. in Science from the Department of Biology at St. John's University. Following this, he pursued post-doctoral research at UCSF Bioscience Institute, focusing on the interrelations among injury induction, cloning, and recovery of DNA. He served as a professor in the Departments of Zoology and Molecular Biology, as well as the Faculty of Biosciences at Seoul National University from 1967, when he began as a full-time lecturer, until 2002. Throughout his tenure, he made significant contributions to Korean molecular biology research, particularly in the field of molecular cell biology related to the basis of carcinogenic genetic diseases. Additionally, he played a vital role in raising public awareness of biosciences.

As a globally recognized researcher in the field of DNA damage recovery, he focused on fundamental research in molecular biology to understand the mechanisms underlying cancer caused by dielectric instability. To achieve this goal, he cloned various DNAs and isolated genes related to damage recovery, subsequently identifying their characteristics. In the 1960s, he reported on heterochromatin, chromosome abnormalities, and abnormalities in DNA synthesis associated with congenital disorders. He also published pioneering studies on the sensitivity to radiation and the aspects of DNA synthesis in cancer cell chromosomes, marking the first such research worldwide.

Upon his return from the USA in 1974 until the early 1980s, he conducted research on suppressing cloning and recovery from ultraviolet-induced damage using materials from skin cancer cell lines. From the mid-1980s onwards, he cloned over 20 types of DNAs and isolated genes related to recovery, revealing their characteristics. He made a significant breakthrough in identifying the structure of recombination recovery-related genes, Rhp51+, and elucidating its expression regulation mechanism. In the 2000s, he embarked on uncovering the regulatory mechanisms of induced gene expression in response to cellular signals and the interplay between gene expression and the silencing of heterochromatin, which serves as a platform for various biological phenomena. His research findings were published in 205 papers and 15 books. Additionally, he made substantial contributions to education, mentoring 122 master's and doctoral students who became outstanding researchers in Korean molecular biology.

Professor Sang-Dai Park was not confined to the laboratory but actively engaged with the media, introducing gene recombination technology to the public. Particularly noteworthy were his discussions, well ahead of their time, on laboratory safety and research ethics. In the 1980s, he played a pivotal role as a pioneer of the genetic engineering boom in Korea, organizing symposiums on genetic engineering and founding the Korea Academic Association of Genetic Engineering. Furthermore, he spearheaded genetic engineering research at Seoul National University and assumed the inaugural presidency of the Seoul National University Genetic Engineering Institute in 1985. Additionally, he chaired the evaluation committee on genetic engineering for the Ministry of Education, playing a key role in shaping policies and support mechanisms for genetic engineering research in Korea.

In 1989, he founded the Korea Molecular Biology Society, which brought together experts from various fields including medicine, agriculture, and fisheries for the first time in Korea, aiming to elevate the quality of research in molecular biology. This society has since evolved into the Korean Molecular & Cell Biology Society, becoming a prominent platform for international research exchange, boasting a membership of 15,000, including foreign members. Professor Sang-Dai Park also established Molecules and Cells, the first journal in the field of biosciences in Korea to be registered in SCI (Science Citation Index). Serving as its inaugural chief editor, he made significant contributions to the globalization of Korean bioscience research.

Professor Park played an active role in the development and implementation of science and technology policies, as well as advocating for the rights and interests of science and technology personnel. He contributed significantly to the restructuring of government organizations related to science and technology and the revitalization of regional associations within the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies. He held key leadership positions, including President of the Federation and Vice Chairman of the National Science and Technology Advisory Committee. Furthermore, he assumed important academic roles such as Chairman of the Basic Technology Research Association and the Korean National Academy of Sciences, while maintaining his leadership in the field of science and technology. Notably, he played a crucial role in the establishment of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), the first UN agency established in Korea, and served as the President of the Korean Sponsors Association, supporting the institute's stable growth.

As a testament to his dedication and achievements, Professor Park received several prestigious awards throughout his career. He was honored with the President's Award in the field of bioscience at the inaugural Korea Science Awards in 1987, followed by the National Academy of Sciences Award in 1998 and the National Academy of Science and Technology Award in 2007. In recognition of his outstanding service, he was bestowed with the Order of Service Merit with Green Stripes in 2002 and the Order of Science and Technology, Changjo Medal in 2014. As a pioneering figure in Korean molecular biology, he is celebrated as the first-generation representative researcher who laid the foundation for Korean bioscience.