The NAS was founded on August 7, 1952 under the Culture Protection Act promulgated as Law No. 248, and inaugurated on July 17, 1954.  The NAS is an academic organization that represents the birthplace of academic development in the Republic of Korea and serves as the Hall of Fame for Korean scholars, both nominally and practically. NAS members are actively engaged in academic research activities across all disciplines with the support of the government. Members are renowned scholars who have made remarkable contributions to the development of the sciences, incurred nominations from academic organizations in their respective fields, and have been elected via a rigorous and fair screening process. 

The NAS is making every effort to promote outstanding accomplishments, both domestic and international as well as to further the advancement of sciences through publication of the NAS journal, NAS Academic Research Series, Trends and Issues of Academic Research, conferring the NAS Award, hosting seminars and international symposia, and supporting participations in international conferences. The NAS strives to enhance its international status by expanding both domestic and international academic activities, advising the government on academic promotion policies, and expanding exchanges and cooperations with academic institutions in other major countries.