Academician, Professor and Doctor Kim Ji Yong is a researcher at University of Sciences, a People’s Scientist and a meritorious person of socialist patriotism. He is better known as an authority on the country’s automatic control engineering. He is also noted for his self-confidence and foresight.

From his childhood Kim was much interested in science. He finished middle school and college courses in Pyongyang with flying colours. In 1974 he was admitted to University of Sciences, where he studied cybernetics.

Once he was diagnosed as having his right eye blinded due to retinal haemorrhage after overwork. He was told that he might lose his sight in the other eye in a few years if he continued to work that hard.

He was torn between different ideas. But he did not give in but stayed the course.

As a junior at the university, he found out a mistake in a foreign study paper published by a world-famous mathematics journal, and issued a paper “Study on the optimal scanning control of the distributive parameter system,” in which he used at least 40 theorems to prove that it was an error, thus causing a sensation in the academic circle.

In the early 1980s when he worked at the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex he accumulated his knowledge of metallurgy and came up with an idea on protecting the blast-furnace smelting section by using titanium concentrate ore material, which was his maiden success in his efforts to contribute to the development of the country’s ferrous metallurgy.

He realized through life that when one works on a research project with confidence he or she can achieve a great success, and made up his mind to devote his life to the research work geared to the development of the national economy.

Later, while working as a teacher at the university, he invented a highly sensitive sensor that is several times better than the previous ones in performance.

His paper “Principal analysis on highly sensitive magnetic sensor based on magnetic negative resistance modulation effect” won a gold medal at the 25th Salon International DES Inventions held in April 1997 in Geneva, Switzerland. At the time his invention was rated as a very interesting brainchild of global standards and an unbelievably sophisticated technology.

When he made a business trip to a European country in the mid-1990s, Kim was asked by a scholar of that country to stay and work in his country. The foreigner was much concerned about the destiny of Korean socialism.

“I am a Korean scientist and professor. A scientist is a man who sees ahead. Korean socialism will emerge victorious,” Kim told the foreign fellow.

Afterwards, Kim Ji Yong said that his remarks represented his gratitude for the country that taught and put him forward and his determination to devote himself to its prosperity.

He was twice awarded February 16 Science and Technology Prize, a top award of the nation dedicated to those who have achieved the most valuable scientific hits.

He published more than 120 papers in journals at home and abroad, and was invited to review and assess papers in the world’s renowned journals.

“There is no practice in life. A success cannot become a scientist’s lifetime goal, much less the pinnacle of science. Times change and we are confronted with more and more difficult and complicated tasks. But if you have good credentials and calculate everything precisely and far-sightedly, you can make a hit at one go. To hit the target without a test fire—this should be what the Korean scientists seek,” he often says to his students and disciples.

Kim, who turns 70 this year, still throws himself into research and education work.

Yang Ryon Hui