Book excerpt: Originally this book was published in Korea under the title Were There Sciences in Korean History? in Korean. The author selected two dozen topics from the history of science in Korea, to present a survey of Korean science to the general public. Now this is translated into English for international readers, with slight modifications to the original Korean version. This is author's way of interpreting Korea's proud scientific traditions, as well as his interpretations of why Korea had to be late in the introduction of advanced Western sciences in the nineteenth century and thereafter, hopefully for the better understanding of Korean history for the general readers, as much as professional historians.