Imdang foundation donates W500 million to KAIST

The Imdang Scholarship & Cultural Foundation has donated 500 million won ($340,000) to KAIST to support advancements in space research and improvements to the university’s satellite research infrastructure.

KAIST announced on Nov. 21 that it had received the donation from the foundation and would use the funds to upgrade facilities at the Satellite Technology Research Center.

The Imdang Foundation is a nonprofit organization established by Kim Moon-hee, former director and mother of Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun.

The foundation is currently chaired by Chung Ji-yi, Executive Director of Hyundai Movex, and has supported education, culture, arts, sports, and talent development across three generations.

Founded in 1989, KAIST’s Satellite Technology Research Center is the first university-based space research institute in Korea.

It led the development of Korea’s first domestically produced satellite and has since spearheaded the creation of next-generation small satellites and ultra-small satellite constellations.

Although around 80 researchers work in the Jeong Mong-heon Research Building at the center, the facility has long lacked an elevator, creating difficulties in transporting research equipment and limiting accessibility for those with mobility challenges.

Using the donation, KAIST plans to install an elevator connecting the basement level to the fourth floor. The university will also renovate its promotional hall into an interactive exhibition space showcasing the history and achievements of KAIST’s space research programs.

As the spouse of Chairwoman Hyun, Jeong Mong-heon is the former chief of Hyundai Group.

To commemorate the project, KAIST will hold a plaque-presentation ceremony today at the university’s Seoul campus.

“The late Chairman Jeong Mong-heon supported the growth of the KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center out of his deep passion for science and space,” Chairwoman Hyun said.

“I hope this facility improvement project will honor his legacy, contribute to the advancement of Korea’s space technology, and inspire more young talent to pursue their dreams.”

KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung expressed his gratitude, saying the foundation’s meaningful support will serve as a major driving force for the university’s future space research initiatives.