Photo: Commemorative photograph from the 20th POSCO TJ Park Prize Award Ceremony (2026). From left: Professor Kyungsoo Choi of the Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Principal Sang-gi Kim of Seoul Girls' Commercial High School, Executive Director Yeonsoo Choi of the Hanbit Youth Foundation, and Mr. Giro Jung, CEO of APS Co., Ltd.

 

- Four Laureates Honored in Science, Education, Community Development & Philanthropy, and Technology; 72 Laureates Recognized and KRW 14.2 Billion Awarded Over the Past 20 Years

- More than 200 Distinguished Guests, Including Past Laureates and Current and Former POSCO Group Executives, Attend the 20th Anniversary Ceremony

 

The POSCO TJ Park Foundation (Chairperson: In-hwa Chang) held the 2026 POSCO TJ Park Prize Award Ceremony on April 22 at POSCO Center in Seoul.

 

Marking the 20th anniversary of the Prize, this year's ceremony brought together more than 200 distinguished guests, including past laureates and current and former executives of POSCO Group, to reflect on the Prize's achievements over the past two decades and to share its vision for the future.

 

The 2026 POSCO TJ Park Prize laureates are Professor Kyungsoo Choi of the School of Mathematics at the Korea Institute for Advanced Study (Science Prize), Seoul Girls' Commercial High School (Education Prize), Mr. Yeonsoo Choi, Executive Director of the Hanbit Youth Foundation (Community Development & Philanthropy Prize), and Mr. Giro Jung, CEO of APS Co., Ltd. (Technology Prize).

 

Established in 2006, the POSCO TJ Park Prize commemorates the legacy of the late Tae-Joon Park, Honorary Chairman of POSCO, whose vision of building a self-reliant steel industry laid the foundation for Korea's industrialization and modernization. The Prize was created to promote POSCO's founding values of creativity, talent development, and the spirit of service while encouraging broader public participation in these ideals. Since the first awards were presented in 2007, the Foundation has honored 72 laureates, including 20 in Science, 21 in Education, 22 in Community Development & Philanthropy, and 9 in Technology. To commemorate the Prize's 20th anniversary, the Foundation increased the award in each category from KRW 200 million to KRW 300 million, making it one of Korea's most prestigious and generously endowed awards.

 

In his welcoming remarks, In-hwa Chang, Chairperson of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation and Chairman of POSCO Group, said, "For the past 20 years, the POSCO TJ Park Prize has recognized individuals who have led innovation and positive change in science, education, community service, and technology. Guided by our enduring commitment to nurturing talent, we will continue supporting those who help build a better society."

 

Professor Ji-soon Ihm of the University of Ulsan, recipient of the inaugural Science Prize, delivered congratulatory remarks, saying, "The POSCO TJ Park Prize has become a landmark that reflects the values and direction our society should pursue. I hope it will continue to inspire meaningful questions and enduring standards as we navigate an era of constant change and new challenges."

 

Professor Kyungsoo Choi, recipient of the Science Prize, is internationally recognized for his pioneering work on curvature flow, integrating partial differential equations with differential geometry. His research has advanced curvature theory by establishing the existence and regularity of solutions, while his groundbreaking contributions to the study of three-dimensional singularities and geometric flow have helped address some of the most fundamental problems in modern mathematics and opened new directions in geometric analysis.

 

The Education Prize was awarded to Seoul Girls' Commercial High School, Korea's first vocational school for women, founded in 1926. The school has established itself as a national model for vocational education by achieving a 100 percent employment rate for seven consecutive years through practice-oriented education and its "employment first, education later" approach. Its strong emphasis on workplace readiness and systematic career guidance has produced graduates equipped with both professional competence and sound character.

 

Mr. Yeonsoo Choi, recipient of the Community Development & Philanthropy Prize, has devoted 34 years to supporting vulnerable youth who are outside the formal education system. Through alternative education programs and comprehensive counseling, protection, and independent living support, he has helped more than 2,000 young people build successful futures. His integrated model—connecting outreach, education, and self-reliance—has become a sustainable framework for youth development.

 

Mr. Giro Jung, recipient of the Technology Prize and CEO of APS Co., Ltd., has led the localization of key semiconductor and display manufacturing equipment for more than three decades, strengthening the global competitiveness of Korea's equipment industry. His independent development of Excimer Laser Annealing (ELA) systems, a core technology in OLED manufacturing, has enabled APS to secure more than 90 percent of the global market, significantly advancing Korea's technological self-reliance and export competitiveness.

 

With an award of KRW 300 million in each category, the POSCO TJ Park Prize stands among Korea's most prestigious national awards. Through its distinguished recognition of excellence in science, education, community development & philanthropy, and technology, it has established a unique and comprehensive award system that celebrates both outstanding academic achievement and exemplary contributions to society.

 

Looking ahead, the POSCO TJ Park Foundation will continue to uphold its founding vision while building on the social impact created by the POSCO TJ Park Prize over the past 20 years. The Foundation remains committed to discovering and supporting individuals and organizations whose achievements inspire new possibilities and contribute to a better future for society.