Since the year 2000, emphasis has been placed on a more strict evaluation of national academic societies and their journals, which has caused most societies to endeavour to produce higher quality journals and research. Korean Earth Science Society (KESS) should be such an exemplary model. Thus, the purpose of this study was to isolate characteristics of well-evaluated academic societies and explore the direction KESS should proceed to better its educational agents and strengthen its research contributions. Back in 2002, the Korean Research Foundation graded the journal of KESS as an officially qualified journal. It was bequeathed the first institute to be registered in the category of Earth Science. Furthermore, such classification was accepted as national academic classification and Scientific Citation Index through a public hearing executed by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning in 2003. Currently, the Korean Research Foundation is reviewing a proposal to approve Earth Science as a unique citation index category. This proposal is quite crucial in that such an approval would be followed by increased funding and affect the future status of KESS. More support and interest from all members of KESS are required to establish the identity of Earth Science as an independent academic entity.