KOREAN
About Mensa Korea
What is Mensa?
The word "Mensa" means "table" in Latin. The name stands for a round-table society, where race, color, creed, national origin, age, politics, educational or social background are irrelevant. Mensa was founded in England in 1946 by Roland Berrill, a barrister, and Dr. Lance Ware, a scientist and lawyer. They had the idea of forming a society for bright people, the only qualification for membership of which was a high IQ. The original aims were, as they are today, to create a society that is non-political and free from all racial or religious distinctions. The society welcomes people from every walk of life whose IQ is in the top 2% of the population, with the objective of enjoying each other's company and participating in a wide range of social and cultural activities.
History of Mensa Korea
Mensa Korea was established in July 1996 by Edward Vincent, the Mensa International Executive Director, and Hyojin Ahn, a member of international Mensa.
As the first test was taken, Korea Mensa was started. Afterwards, more than 500 members became members in about 1 year by the tests, which were taken regularly a number of times. The members have continued doing their S.I.G activities.
In August 1997, the first board of directors was inaugurated. Korea Mensa officially started at COEX in January 1998. Mensa Korea opened the official homepage at http://www.mensakorea.org in June 1998 to embrace local mensans and groups.
(The 2nd Test at the DukSung Women's University in 2006)
| Date | Note |
| 1995.7.1 | Mensa International Executive Director Edward Vincent and Hyojin Ahn prepared for the first Mensa test in Korea. |
| 1996.7.6 ~ 7.7 | The first test taken at the Seoul 63 building (66% passed / 87% registered) |
| 1996.12.21 | Preliminary Mensa Korea Journal published. |
| 1997.2.21 | Nonhyun-dong office opened |
| 1997.4.5 | ExComm visited Korea / Director of Administration Godwin Zwanenberg,Director of Development Chitra Nathan |
| 1997.5.10 ~ 11 | The 1st membership training |
| 1997.8.17 | The 1st board of directors were elected. |
| 1997.8.28 | Sinsa-dong office Opened |
| 1997.8.31 | The 1st board meeting |
| 1997.10.10 | The 1st Mensa Korea Journal published |
| 1998.1.17 | An inaugural meeting of a conference at COEX (234 participants) |
| 1998.5.17 | Admission test at the Sinsa-dong office (12 participated, 9 passed) |
| 1998.6.2 | Official homepage registered (http://www.mensakorea.org) |
| 1999.9.20 | The 2nd board of directors were elected. |
| 2000.5.22 | Elevated as a corporation aggregate |
| 2001.7.13 | The 3rd board of directors were elected. |
| 2003.12.1 | The 4th board of directors were elected. |
| 2005.8.1 | The 5th board of directors were elected. |
| 2007.8.1 | The 6th board of directors were elected. |
| 2007.10.1 | Jamwon-dong office opened |
| 2005.10 | Mensa Korea was officially recognized as a full “National Mensa”. |
| 2009.9.7 | The 7th board of directors were elected. |
| 2011.6.14 | The 8th board of directors were elected. |
| 2013.8.1 | The 9th board of directors were elected. |
| 2015.1.24 | The 10th board of directors were elected. |