The Korea Astronomy Olympiad (KAO) is administered by the Korea Astronomy Olympiad Committee under the aegis of the Korean Astronomical Society. The Korea Astronomy Olympiad Committee on behalf of the Korean Astronomical Society takes the obligation of the Authorized National Representative Astronomical Organization (ANRAO) to represent the Republic of Korea in IAO, IOAA, and APAO.
On October 27, 2001, the Korean Astronomical Society and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute jointly hosted the 1st Korea Astronomy Olympiad at Seoul National University in Seoul, the capital city of Korea. Next year, in October of 2002, Korea participated for the first time in the 7th International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO) that took place in Russia, with three high school students attending as observers. In 2003, the Korean government began providing financial support for KAO as part of the Korea International Science Olympiad Project, and the support has ever since been administered by Korea¡¯s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology via the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity.