First of all, I wish all the members of the Korean Ceramic Society a happy New Year.

For about a half century since its foundation in 1957, the Korean Ceramic Society has been growing tremendously and playing a pivotal role of promoting academic and industrial activities of ceramic scientists and engineers in Korea. As its President of 2010, I will do my best to observe the founding principles of the Society that have been preserved and expanded persistently by our senior ceramists and to further its membership and activities. I would like to ask active participation and constructive advice and criticism from all of its members, councilors, managing officers and staffs in the society headquarter and branches.

We are now facing unprecedented difficulties due to a sudden economical and industrial crisis that has been originated from instability and turmoil in US financial market. Most of domestic ceramic industries, being predominantly of small and medium sizes, are exposed to greater danger due to extreme instability in stock market and exchange rate. I firmly believe that our society should play a critical role of providing all the Korean ceramists in academia, industry, research institutes, and government with a forum to meet and discuss together to cope and overcome the crisis. The Special Commission on Industry-Academia-Research Institutes Cooperation that has been formed lately will take in charge of formulating and promoting such an initiative as soon as possible.

However, the crisis can be also an opportunity. It can be a precious chance to reinvent the Society by reviewing our old custom and tradition and re-defining core values and procedures. I will take this rare opportunity to review the status quo of the Society, financial and administrative situation, the procedures and programs of annual conferences, scientific content and status of the Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society as well as our bi-monthly bulletin, “Ceramists,” divisional activities, and international networking and exchange programs, and to change and strengthen them, if necessary, in order to meet the global standards and quality. At the same time, we will develop new initiatives to enhance the benefits and professional status of our members and international visibility and impact of our Society. I encourage you to give the Society strong support and to participate proactively in various societal programs and activities.Recently we have some bright news such as an exportation of nuclear power plant which inspire us to hopeful year 2010. Thanks a lot.

January 1st, 2010
Kyong-Sop Han, Dr.-Ing.
President of the Korean Ceramic Society