Optoelectronics in Korea

Abstract

It is our great pleasure to introduce Korea's current optoelectronic research activities in a special issue of the journal of Optical and Quantum Electronics. Optoelectronics in Korea has progressed rapidly during the past few decades. In the early 1980s, after realizing the enormous potential of optoelectronic devices, many universities, government agencies and research institutions began intensively pursuing research in this area. In preparation for the demands of the information society of the 21st century, we believe that Korea will continue active research into this ever-growing field. This special issue features both invited and contributed papers from government, industrial and university research laboratories in Korea. Contributed papers were solicited in the areas of fundamental research, optoelectronic devices, optical switching components, optical interconnects, optical integration and systems applications. Of the 49 papers received, 31 papers were chosen to describe advances in fundamental and applied research relevant to optoelectronic devices and systems in the fields of telecommunications and information technology in Korea. Without the support and help of the Optical Society of Korea this issue would not have been possible. Specifically, we would like to acknowledge gratefully the kind assistance of the advisory committee (C. H. Hong, K. N. Kang, N. S. Kim, Y. S. Kwon, E. H. Lee and S. Y. Shin) and give special thanks to the editorial committee (J. H. Lee, S. D. Lee, Y. H. Lee, B. Y. Kim and J. W. Wu) for their many hours of blood, sweat and tears during this year's (1994) extremely hot and humid summer. It is our hope that this issue will give a new insight into the optoelectronics research currently being conducted in Korea.