Nondestructive Testing (NDT) is a generic term designating all methods which may be used to detect flaws and discontinuities in materials, parts and structures or to evaluate the properties of materials, without causing damage to the object. There are a number of different NDT techniques: to name a few, Radiographic Testing (RT), Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Acoustic Emission (AE), Magnetic Particle Testing (MPT), Penetrant Testing (PT), Eddy Current Testing (ECT), Leakage Testing (LT), and Visual Testing (VT). New techniques such as optical methods are also developed to meet the increasingly more strict industrial needs. Besides NDT, terms such as Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE), Nondestructive Inspection (NDI) and Nondestructive Characterization (NDC) are used when appropriate, and they are often exchangeable with each other.

The Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing was established in March, 1980, for the purpose of facilitating academic research and promoting practical applications of the nondestructive testing techniques. The Society was recognized as an incorporated body by the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology in June, 1981. As of March, 2020, the Society has 4,539 members, 388 student members, and 158 corporate members.

The activities of the Society are in general managed and conducted by the Executive Board. Current officers are as follows.

• President: Ik Keun Park (Seoul National University of Science and Technology),
• Vice Presidents: Kyung-Young Jhang (Hanyang University),
  Dong-Jin Yoon (Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science),
  JaeKyu Paek (Hankuk Industrial Engineering Co. Ltd.),
  Kyung Cho Kim (Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety),
  TaeSoon Son (Korea Inspection & Engineering Co. Ltd.)
• General Secretaries: Gang Eop Lee (Hankuk Industrial Engineering Co. Ltd.),
  Hak-Sung Kim (Hanyang University)
  Treasurer Secretaries: HunYoung Kim (ITEC Service Co. Ltd.),
  Houng Kun Ann (Hojin Industrial Co. Ltd.)
• Editorial Secretaries: Young Sang Joo (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute),
  Jung-Ryul Lee (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology),
  Gyuhae Park (Chonnam National University),
  DaeHyun Kim(Seoul National University of Science and Technology),
  Lae-Hyong Kang(Chonbuk National University),
  Chungseok Kim(Chosun University),
  Choon-Su Park(Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science),
  SeungHyun Cho (Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science)
• Academic Activities Secretaries: Donghoon Kang (Korea Railroad Research Institute)
  Seunghee Park (SungKyunKwan University)
  Changjae Yim (Ansco Co. Ltd.)
  Wonjae Choi (Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science)
  Nam-Su Huh (Seoul National University of Science and Technology)
  Yong-Kwon Kim (KEPCO KPS)
• Education/Training Secretaries: Ku-Pom Chung (Argus Co. Ltd.)
  Dongjin Lee (Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co. Ltd.)
  Yongsik Kim (Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. Ltd.)
• Standardization/Certification Secretaries: SungWoo Ryu (ENESG)
  Chang Kuen Kim (Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co. Ltd.)
• International Activities Secretaries: Hoon Sohn (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
• Auditors: GwangTae Joo (Korea Radiation Solution Co. Ltd.)
  Suk-Chull Kang (Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety)

There are four standing committees listed below, and several more ad hoc committees.

• International Cooperation Committee :
  for active cooperation and collaboration with foreign NDT-related bodies
• Publication Committee :
  for publication of various materials including the official Journal
• Conference Organizing Committee:
  for holding annual conferences successfully
• Standardization/Technical Committee:
  for establishing standards of NDT techniques and for research and promotion of NDT technology in the industry

All members of the Society are divided into six academic divisions, listed below.
Each represents a group of similar NDT techniques, and each plans and holds its own meetings and workshops.

• Radiography
  for development and facilitation of radiographic techniques such as RT and NRT
• Ultrasonics
  for development and facilitation of ultrasonic techniques
• Electromagnetics
  for development and facilitation of electromagnetic techniques such as ECT and IRT, and other techniques such as MT, PT and VT
• Optics
• Acoustic Emission
  for development and facilitation of acoustics-related techniques such as AE and Vibration techniques, and also of LT
• Thermography
  for development and facilitation of acoustics-related techniques such as AE and Vibration techniques, and also of LT
• Photonics technology
  for development and facilitation of Photonics techniques

Spring and Fall Annual Meetings are held each year by the Society to facilitate NDT research and to provide forums for discussion and exchange of up-to-date technical information. During the Meetings, the Society Awards and Scholarships are conferred on those who have made significant contributions to the Society, and on prospective students in the NDT field, respectively. At the site of the conferences, showcases of new commercial NDT products are also held. In addition, each of the six Academic Divisions and five Technical Divisions holds its own workshops and seminars.

The Society delivers several education and training courses to the existing as well as the prospective NDT personnels. For example, the Society offers training courses for NDT Level I and II based on KSNT-QCP-001, which is a Korean version of SNT-TC-1A. The Society also offers two-week courses for the examinees of ASNT Level III Examinations, administered by the Society under the auspice of ASNT. In addition, courses are offered for training and qualification of NDT personnels based on the Korea Electric Power Industry Code (KEPIC), established by the Korea Electric Association for the inspection of nuclear and fossil power plants. Because of the lack of regular NDT courses in most Korean college curricula, the Society's role in education and training as described above is indispensable.

As a regular member of the International Committee for NDT (ICNDT), the Society is actively involved in many international activities including international conferences such as the World Conference on NDT (WCNDT) and Asia-Pacific Conference on NDT (APCNDT). In particular, the Society played the initiative role in launching the Far East Conference on NDT (FENDT), which is a forum, held every four years, where NDT researchers from Korea, Japan and Taiwan share and exchange valuable information regarding recent progresses made in their NDT research. Furthermore, the Society has made agreements for international collaborations with its counterparts of the U.S.A., Japan, Taiwan, China and Brazil, and it plans on the continued extension of its international collaborations. Especially, 20th WCNDT 2020 will be held in Seoul, Korea, June 8-12, 2020.

The Society publishes six issues of its official journal, Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing, every year. The Journal contains original papers, reports of recent NDT advancements, and reviews and announcements of the Society's activities. The contents of the Journal published during the past five years are listed below. In addition to the Journal, the Society publishes various textbooks and reference materials for education and training.
Paper Submission