Fax from Prof. Lang at Yale
(1997, 4, 16)


Korean Mathematical Society
Attn. President Professor Gun Soo Chang(참조: 무응답한 장교수의 변명)
Fax 82-02-565-0364


Korea Institute of Advanced Study
Attn. President Professor Hyochul Myung(주: 명효철교수 회신거부)
Fax 82-2-958-3710

Dear Professor Chang and Myung

Your institutions represent mathematics in Korea.The case of MyungHo Kim has just been brought to my attention , by a forthcoming article in the Mathematical Intelligencer, and an informative letter on the facts of the case, addressed to the Math Intelligencer by members of the American Mathematical Society, especially a committee of Academic Freedom, Tenure and Employment.

The international mathematical community forms a village which is on the top of line in maintaining communication and promoting standards. More than any other group I know, we help each other correct mistakes, hopefully before they published, but also after they are published. We are trained to do so from the beginning when we join this community. As those AMS members wrote in their letter, no reproch should be made for making a minor blunder. The problem arises when an establishment does not cooperate to correct the blunder and annul whatever undesirable effects the blunder may have had. I have myself made blunders, and have corrected them in the past as extensively and publicly as I could. I have encouraged students in my classes to find whatever errors they could in my books, and bring them to my attention so I could correct them.

I urge you to give support to Myung in his effort to nullify the result of an improperly phrased question in an important examination, individuals such as Myung deserve the support of their establishment. Our standards are international. It is already unfortunate that the situation has escalated to the point when there has to be an appeal to the international community to set things straight. You have considerable influence to defuse the situation just by straightening it out openly and simply. You will have the appreciation of the international mathematical community, and mine.

With best regards, Serge Lang

cc: Myung Ho Kim