Progress of Korean Women in
Mathematical Sciences (KWMS)
Wansoon Kim
Korean Women in Mathematical Sciences (KWMS)
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
 Status of Women in S&T in Korea
 Supporting Women in S&T in Korea
 Korean Women in Mathematical Sciences
(KWMS)
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Status of Women in Korea
 Equal Employment Act (1987)
 The Childcare Act (1990 and 2003)
 Act on the Punishment of Sexual Assault Crimes and
Protection of Victims (1993)
 Women’s Development Act (1995)
 Act on Support of Women-Owned Business Enterprises
(1999)
 Women’s Development Act: Agriculture and Fisheries
(2001)
Ministry of Gender Equality was set up in
2001.
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Status of Women in Korea
 To expand women’s participation in various
committees within the government (2006
target 38%),
 To promote equal employment in public
enterprises (2006 target 30%),
 To promote women’s participation in the
legislative body.
 To promote employment of female professors
in public universities (2006 target 20%)
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Supporting Women in S&T
 WISE: Women into Science and Engineering
(KOSEF), 2001.
 NIS-WIST: the National Institute for Supporting
Women in Science and Technology (MOST),
2005
 KOFWST: Korean Federation of Women’s
Science and Technology Associations, 2003
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Enrollment in Mathematics (2006)
BA
MA
Doctorate
Total
No.
No. of
Women
% of
Women
Total
No.
No. of
Women
% of
Women
Total
No.
No. of
Women
% of
Women
12,426
7198
56%
456
212
46%
266
112
42%
Faculty
Total
No.
No. of
Women
% of
Women
806
102
14%
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Korean Women in Mathematical Sciences
Founded in 2004 / 286 members/ 102 faculties / 10 male
members
 Voice for female mathematicians
 Less silence in face of discrimination
 Enhanced leadership diversity in academic and
scientific institutions
 Enhanced fairness in competitive selection
 Learning to survive in competitive selection
 Advice and/or participation in government
committees for making and reviewing policies
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Korean Women in Mathematical Sciences

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
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Newsletter, homepage
Organizing annual conferences
Workshops for networking and leadership
Prizes and awards
Travel grants to young woman scalars
Careers & services
Outreach programs: public lectures,
mentoring
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Changes
 Research collaboration
 More female executive board members
in Korean Mathematical Society (KMS)
 Increased participation in KMSsponsored activities
 Increased need for female mentors
 Increased employment of female
mathematicians
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Future Tasks
 Develop programs to
 increase the presence of female faculties
 increase the success rate of female PhDs
 increase the level of recognition and the
level of career satisfaction
 Network to
 learn successfully implemented programs
 support other women’s mathematical
societies
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Thank You for Your Support
The AWM looks forward to collaborating with
you to advance the participation of women in
mathematics.
Gordon
President, AWM
Carolyn
Former
The EWM looks forward to establishing
connections and exchanging ideas and
suggestions to foster mathematical
communication in a world that still seems to
isolate women scholars.
Laura Tedeschini-Lalli
Former EWM Convenor
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Thank You
KWMS
http:// www.kwms.or.kr
NIS WIST
http://www.wist.re.kr
Ewha Women’s University
http://www.ewha.ac.kr
UK resource center for women in science
engineering & technology: 2nd UK-Korea
Women in Science Forum
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