This book was published as a part of the Science and Civilization in Korea series planned by the Korean Research Institute of Science, Technology, and Civilization at Chonbuk National University. As with other volumes in the series, this work presents substantial historical discussions on its topic. The topic examined by the author is science and technology research systems in South Korea since liberation from Japanese colonial rule. The author defines "research systems" as follows: they "mainly refer to research institutes, the spaces in which research and development activities are performed, and the institutions surrounding them, and can encompass the scientists and engineers who lead research within them and even the research accomplishments and culture created by these people" (24-25).
The questions that the author raises regarding research systems in South Korea are, "What historical trajectories have research systems in South Korea undergone, what are the factors that have driven such an evolution, and what are the characteristics emerging from the process? Do unique *South Korean research systems' exist? If so, then when, through what occasions, and how were they created?" (30). Based on such questions, this book mainly traces the historical flows through which research institutes in South Korea have changed. These streams consist of national research institutes, govemment-funded research institutes (GRIs), corporate research institutes, and univerity research institutes.
