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. The following year, in October 2002, three high school students participated for the first time as observers at the 7th International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO) held in Russia. Korea has been steadily participating in the IOAA since the 1st International Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad (IOAA), held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2007, building international friendship and raising Korea's status. The Korea Astronomy Olympiad has been supported by the government since 2003 as part of the International Science Olympiad project, which is currently being carried out by the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity (KOFAC) with funding from the Promotion of Science and Technology Fund and the Lottery Fund of Korea.