The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of the Republic of Korea was founded on the national aspiration to inherit our historical tradition of respecting scholars and the sciences, as well as to pursue national development through scholarly achievement. 
The NAS was legally established under the Culture Protection Act, promulgated as Law No. 248 on August 7, 1952, and was officially founded on July 17, 1954.  It is a state institution that represents the Republic of Korea academically. It is the Hall of Fame to which Korean scholars aspire to be admitted as the culmination of their academic careers.

The members of the NAS are elected through a rigorous and fair screening process from a wide range of scholars nominated by major academic associations and organizations in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The NAS is a state institution that recognizes and supports its members by honoring their achievements in their respective fields of specialization. It has made every effort to promote academic advancement by publishing  the NAS journal, NAS Academic Research Series, and Trends and Issues of Academic Research, conferring the NAS Award, hosting seminars and international symposia, and supporting its members' participation in international conferences.  In particular, the NAS strives to enhance its international academic status by expanding both its scholarly relations with the national academies of other major countries.