- Five Laureates Honored Across Four Categories: Science, Technology, Education, and Community Development & Philanthropy

- More than 120 Guests, Including Award Recipients, Their Families, and Current and Former POSCO Group Executives, Attend Ceremony

- First Female Science Prize Recipient and First Joint Recipients of the Community Development & Philanthropy Prize Recognized

 

The POSCO TJ Park Foundation (Chairperson: In-hwa Chang) held the 2025 POSCO TJ Park Prize Award Ceremony on April 2 at POSCO Center.

 

Celebrating its 19th year, the POSCO TJ Park Prize recognized five distinguished laureates this year: Professor Moonjung Park of the Department of Chemistry at POSTECH (Science Prize), Mr. Jindong Kim, CEO of Lake Materials Co., Ltd. (Technology Prize), Pohang Myeongdo School (Education Prize), and Mr. Chul-yong Lee, President of CAMP, together with Dr. Hyein Chu, Director of Sallim Clinic under the Sallim Medical Welfare Social Cooperative, who jointly received the Community Development & Philanthropy Prize.

 

Established in 2006 to honor the legacy of the late Tae-Joon Park, Honorary Chairman of POSCO, whose vision of building a steel industry laid the foundation for Korea's industrialization and modernization, the POSCO TJ Park Prize promotes POSCO's founding values of creativity, talent development, and service while encouraging contributions to national progress. Over the past 19 years, the Prize has honored a total of 68 individuals and organizations. Each prize category carries an award of KRW 200 million.

 

In his welcoming remarks, In-hwa Chang, Chairperson of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation and Chairman of POSCO Group, stated, "The POSCO TJ Park Prize will continue to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science, technology, education, and community service, while fostering a culture of creativity, dedication, and bold challenges."

 

Professor Moonjung Park, recipient of the Science Prize, was recognized for pioneering the new academic field of polymer end-group chemistry and establishing a new paradigm for polymer synthesis and control technologies that are essential to advanced industries. Her groundbreaking discovery that polymer end groups determine the thermodynamic properties and physical characteristics of polymers has attracted widespread recognition from the global scientific community.

 

Mr. Jindong Kim, recipient of the Technology Prize, successfully localized the production of ultra-high-purity trimethylaluminum (TMA), previously dependent on imports, and independently developed organometallic compound manufacturing plant design technology. More recently, he succeeded in developing mass-production facilities for lithium sulfide, a key material for all-solid-state batteries, demonstrating strong potential for future technological growth.

 

Pohang Myeongdo School, recipient of the Education Prize, has provided individualized special education since its establishment in 1989. The school is widely recognized for founding Korea's first orchestra composed of students with developmental disabilities, achieving outstanding results in adaptive sports through specialized training, and offering advanced digital education and practical vocational training programs that have significantly improved employment opportunities for students with disabilities.

 

Mr. Chul-yong Lee, one of the joint recipients of the Community Development & Philanthropy Prize, has devoted more than 25 years to supporting socially marginalized communities, including persons with disabilities, migrant workers, and low-income populations. Since 2007, he has lived and worked alongside residents of impoverished communities in the Philippines, helping establish sustainable models of community self-reliance.

 

Dr. Hyein Chu, the other joint recipient of the Community Development & Philanthropy Prize and Director of Sallim Clinic under the Sallim Medical Welfare Social Cooperative, has dedicated her career to reducing inequality and exclusion in healthcare. Since founding Sallim Clinic in 2012, she has worked with more than 4,600 cooperative member households to operate a primary care clinic, dental clinic, health center, and community care center, while providing more than 3,300 free medical consultations and treatments over the past decade.

 

The POSCO TJ Park Prize has consistently identified and supported individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of science, technology, education, and community service in Korea. In particular, the Science and Technology Prizes have recognized researchers and innovators whose world-class achievements have strengthened Korea's global standing.

 

The POSCO TJ Park Foundation will continue to discover, recognize, and support scientists exploring new frontiers of knowledge, educators nurturing future generations, innovators driving Korea's technological advancement, and individuals whose humanitarian commitment is helping build a brighter future through the POSCO TJ Park Prize.