POSCO TJ Park Foundation has selected 30 emerging scientists as the 17th class of POSCO Science Fellows and held a certificate presentation ceremony on Thursday, October 23, at the POSCO Center in Seoul. This year’s competition was especially intense, with 440 early-career professors from 75 universities nationwide applying—resulting in a high acceptance ratio of over 14:1. Each selected POSCO Science Fellow will receive a total research grant of 100 million KRW over two years.

 

 

The POSCO Science Fellowship is one of the core programs of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation, supporting outstanding early-career scientists in Korea. Since its launch in 2009, the program has selected 543 promising researchers in the fields of basic and applied sciences and has provided a total of 36.4 billion KRW in research funding. Through this initiative, the foundation has greatly contributed to creating a stable and supportive research environment for young scientists to focus on their studies.

 

 

The ceremony began with a welcoming address by Mr. Dongkyun Choi, Executive Director of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation, followed by a congratulatory speech from Professor Sang Yup Lee, Vice President of KAIST and member of the foundation’s Board of Directors. The event also featured video messages of congratulations from senior Fellows — Professor Sei Ik Kim (Yonsei University), Professor Cheol Seong Hwang (Korea University), and Professor Moon Jeong Park (POSTECH). Professor Moon Jeong Park, a 3rd class POSCO Science Fellow and 2025 POSCO TJ Park Prize Laureate in Science, encouraged the new Fellows in her message, saying, “Be proud to be a POSCO Science Fellow, stay true to your original passion, and pursue your research with perseverance to become scientists who pioneer new academic frontiers.”

 

 

Certificates were then presented to 30 Fellows representing six academic fields — Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Metals & Materials, and Energy Materials. Three Fellows from the 17th class — Professor Yunha Heo (POSTECH), Professor Yongwoong Jeon (KAIST), and Professor Sunwoo Kim (Yonsei University) — delivered acceptance speeches on behalf of the new cohort. Professor Yunha Heo stated, “Being selected as a POSCO Science Fellow has made me feel a greater sense of responsibility as a researcher. I will continue conducting meaningful research for a sustainable future.” The first part of the event concluded with a group photo session, symbolizing the connection and fellowship between senior and junior researchers.

 

 

The second part of the ceremony featured a special lecture titled “Innovation and the Essence of Research” by Professor Sang Yup Lee, Vice President of KAIST and member of the foundation’s Board of Directors. Professor Lee shared insights on the evolution of scientific and technological research and the process of creating meaningful outcomes, emphasizing, “Always place people at the center of your inquiry.” He added, “The ultimate goal of science is to improve human life, and true innovation begins when research starts and ends with a genuine concern for humanity.”

 

 

The event concluded with a second special lecture by Professor Cheol Seong Hwang, Distinguished Professor at Seoul National University and recipient of the 2025 Republic of Korea’s Top Scientist and Engineer Award, on the topic “AI and Semiconductors.” Professor Hwang introduced the development of artificial intelligence and its foundational papers, examining the progress of AI technology from a philosophical perspective on human existence. He also shared deep insights into the future direction of science and the importance of intellectual depth in scientific thinking.

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The POSCO TJ Park Foundation will continue its strong commitment to supporting talented young scientists, empowering them to achieve world-class research outcomes within Korea.

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