[Editorial] Olympiad shows importance of math

Math whiz kids from around the world are in Korea to compete in the 41st International Math Olympiad, which is being held for the first time in Korea at various institutions including the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

For this round of competitions, which began July 13 and will last until July 25, 460 participants from 82 nations are locked in head-to-head math competition.

In Korea, which has consecutively placed in the top 10 in the previous Olympiads, hopes are high for the final rounds of the competition, scheduled for July 19 and 20. The current members of Korea`s team come from the roster of students at the Korean Science High School.

As designated by UNESCO, this is the year of international mathematics. It is rather rare for UNESCO to designate a year for a specific field of academia. The very act brings to the forefront the importance of mathematics in this information society.

This realization is evident in the world`s keen interest in mathematics, which has been building recently. Without the support and the knowledge of mathematicians, new technological advancements in the Internet, computer science and biotechnology would be next to impossible.

With so much international clout in its pockets, it is an honor indeed to have the International Math Olympiad held in Korea. However, there are more than a couple of regrettable developments in the IMO. The first is, despite the tremendous effort and zeal among the members of various domestic mathematics societies and their thorough plans, the public interest in the Olympiad is strikingly low. The great event has become a private celebration by those in the math world. It is a striking contrast to the public and national support other international teams receive from their motherland.

What is more disappointing is the very concept of Korean understanding of the importance of mathematics, which has been revealed during the rounds of competitions. Many of the foreign mathematicians who have come to Korea to be a part of the Olympiad have proclaimed that mathematics has become a field of great interest in their nations. They further commented that with many of its academics being enlisted into the industries in the private sector, they will indeed bring about a great leap forward for industries. However, in Korea, many view mathematics as just another field of knowledge used for the purpose of testing the students for college entrance.

Of the many Korean whiz-kids who participate in the IMO, a majority opt for fields of study other than mathematics in their higher education in the universities. This has been a source of tragedy for those in the mathematics field. Currently, the field of applied mathematics is next to void of students, and this situation will no doubt translate into a tragic loss of the competitive edge in international industrial arena.

Even now, there are voices being raised in fear of the crisis in the academic field of humanities. It is time for the government and universities to address the question of placing all academic fields of study, including mathematics and other fields in both the natural sciences and humanities, onto a solid ground.

The current international trend places a very thin line between the applied and theoretical/elementary academia. Many have recognized the interrelation of and between the various applied and theoretical aspects, as well as between fields of studies. It is imperative that through this Olympiad and other such academic competitions Koreans must share that understanding and recognize the importance of the elementary and theoretical academia.