Pioneered the development of Freon and Teflon, and applied for 35 patents related to fluorine chemistry
Contributed to laying the technical foundation for the industrialization of Freon in Korea and the early establishment of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science
Park Dal-jo
Former President of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science
(1906~1988)
- Academic background
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1929
Graduated from the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Dayton, USA
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1937
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Ohio State University, USA
- career
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1929~1935
Researcher at GM Frigidaire, USA
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1937~1947
Senior Researcher, DuPont Jackson Laboratory, USA
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1947~1972
Professor of Chemistry, University of Colorado, USA
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1967~1968
Chairman of Division of Fluorine Chemistry, American Chemical Society
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1970~1972
Standing Technical Adviser, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
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1972~1974
2nd President of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science
- Awards received
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1969
University of Dayton Distinguished Alumni Award
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1970
Citation by the Minister of Science and Technology (currently, the Ministry of Science and ICT)
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1972
Technology Award in the 3.1 Culture Award
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1975
Fluorine Award by the American Chemical Society
Dr. Daljo Park, a globally renowned fluorochemist, made significant contributions to the development of Freon and Teflon and laid the groundwork for the industrialization of Freon in Korea.
Born in 1906 in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A., Dr. Park studied chemical engineering at the University of Dayton in Ohio. Upon graduation in 1929, he joined GM Frigidaire Corp. as a researcher and became part of a team led by Thomas Midgley Jr. This team pioneered chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), commonly known as Freons, as revolutionary refrigerants for refrigerators. He joined during the early stages of product development and participated in creating several Freon variants, including Freon-11 and 12.
In 1933, Dr. Park entered the doctoral program in chemistry at the Ohio State University to further enhance his research expertise. Under the guidance of William L. Evans, an authority in carbohydrate chemistry, he completed his dissertation, “A Study in the Correlation of Optical Rotation and Isomerism of the Acetates of Arabinose,” in 1937, becoming the second Korean to receive a doctoral degree in chemistry after Tae-Kyu Lee. After completing his doctorate, Dr. Park joined the DuPont Jackson Laboratories, where he worked for 10 years as a researcher on improving and developing Teflon, a coating material used primarily for aerosol propellants and kitchenware. In 1941, he filed his first patent, “[Fluorine compound] On the method of manufacturing particular fluorinated compounds” (U.S. Patent No. 2336921). Over the years, he obtained roughly 35 U.S. patents, significantly contributing to DuPont's technological advancements.
In 1947, Dr. Park became a professor of chemistry at the University of Colorado, where he focused on advancing academic research. At the university, he established the Organic Fluorine Chemistry Training Center, which secured over $1.2 million in federal research grants and became the largest facility of its kind in the United States. He also served as a research advisor to more than 20 global companies, including DuPont, and simultaneously held the position of vice president at a chemical manufacturing plant in Colorado. During his tenure, Dr. Park devoted himself to training postgraduates, 115 doctoral and 24 master’s students, and authored over 130 research papers, significantly advancing the field of organic fluorine chemistry. In recognition of his contributions and accomplishments, he received numerous awards from the University of Colorado for teaching and research. In addition, his graduate students established the Physical and Organic Chemistry Fund in his honor in 1958. Moreover, he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Dayton and the Fluorine Award from the American Chemical Society. Acknowledged as on one of the foremost authorities in fluorine chemistry, Dr. Park retired in 1972 after a distinguished career.
In 1969, at the request of the Korean government, Dr. Park visited the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) as part of a program to attract Korean scientists abroad. He noted the potential to develop Freon using Korea’s abundant fluorite deposits. KIST Director Choi Hyung-seop consulted with him to gain insights from Dr. Park’s expertise in Freon production and led the launch of the Freon Development Research project at KIST. KIST appointed Dr. Park as a technical advisor, and under his guidance began the designing and construction of a pilot Freon production plant, which was constructed in 1972. The Freon produced was branded “Korfron-12,” meaning “Korean Freon,” and its industrial property rights were sold to Korea Fluoride Industries. KIST subsequently developed raw materials for Teflon and new refrigerants. A research center leader later described these advancements as “seeds sown by Dr. Park Dal-jo.”
In 1972, Dr. Park was appointed the second president of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science. He emphasized the importance of nurturing scientists for applied sciences, which Korea lacked and were critical for Korea’s development. His principles were reflected in faculty selection and student education, shaping the early foundation for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science. After completing his tenure in Korea, Dr. Park returned to the United States in 1975, becoming an emeritus professor at the University of Colorado. He passed away in Hawaii in 1982. In recognition of his contributions to Korea's fluorochemical industry, he was awarded a citation from the Minister of Science and Technology in 1970 and the Technology Award in the 3.1 Culture Award in 1972.
As a world-renowned chemist, Dr. Park’s legacy spans two nations, as a pioneer of Freon and Teflon in the United States, and a pivotal role in advancing Korea’s science and technology. His efforts to establish a firm foundation for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science, industrialize Freon, and institutionalize industrial property rights still reflect his vision of a “world-class industrialized Korea.”
