Ceremony held at Shilla Hotel on Sunday; more than 270 attend
President of Swedish Royal Academy, which selects Nobel laureates, joins event
Special lecture set for July 4 at Daejeon Convention Center
37.9 billion won awarded to 188 recipients since 1990
The Ho-Am Foundation held the 36th Samsung Ho-Am Prize ceremony at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Dynasty Hall of the Shilla Hotel in Seoul.
This year's winners are Oh Sung-jin (37), professor at UC Berkeley, in the science prize's physics and mathematics category; Yoon Tae-sik (51), professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in the science prize's chemistry and life sciences category; Kim Bum-man (79), emeritus professor at the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), for engineering; Eva Hoffmann (51), professor at the University of Copenhagen, for medicine; soprano Jo Su-mi (63), for the arts; and Oh Dong-chan (58), medical director of the National Sorokdo Hospital, for social service.
The honorees span a wide range of generations, from their 30s to their 70s, and bring diverse backgrounds to the prize. Each winner received a certificate, medal and 300 million won (about $200,000) in prize money, for a combined total of 1.8 billion won (about $1,200,000).
More than 270 people attended the ceremony, including winners' families, friends and Samsung presidents. The event opened with remarks by Ho-Am Foundation Chairman Kim Hwang-sik, followed by a jury report from chief judge Eo Do-seon, the category award presentations and acceptance speeches, and a congratulatory address by Seoul National University President Yoo Hong-lim. Sven Lidin, president of the Swedish Royal Academy — the body that selects Nobel laureates — also attended. The foundation livestreamed the entire ceremony online.
"It is a great honor and joy to welcome recipients who have earned the distinction of the Ho-Am Prize through outstanding achievements," Chairman Kim said. "We deeply admire the meaningful contributions of the winners, who have advanced science, technology, culture and the arts through creative wisdom, scholarly passion and a steadfast spirit of service, and who have worked to build a warmer world."
In his congratulatory address, Seoul National University President Yoo said the Ho-Am Prize "honors the essential values of the human spirit — reason, practice and beauty — across the fields of scholarship, the arts and social service," adding that "even in a rapidly changing era, the pursuit of truth and the effort to uphold human dignity will remain the driving force behind the advancement of human civilization."
The winners also shared their thoughts on receiving the award.
Oh Sung-jin, winner of the science prize in physics and mathematics, said: "Twenty years ago, I did not even know what a mathematician was, so this award is a stage beyond anything I could have dreamed. Thanks to my mentors and colleagues, I was able to turn the fear of the unknown into excitement. I will continue my research in pure mathematics and hope to be a small guiding light for others embarking on new adventures."
Yoon Tae-sik, winner of the science prize in chemistry and life sciences, said the "intellectual flexibility" he developed by experiencing both Korean and American cultures had become the foundation for how he approaches complex scientific questions. "I dedicate this honor to my parents, who showed me the value of sincere effort through their own lives as immigrants and who are the basis of all my success," he said.
Kim Bum-man, winner of the engineering prize, said he had long pursued his work alongside students with the conviction that technology development can be a force for building a better world. "I will continue to do my best to inspire the next generation of talent and make a meaningful contribution to our society," he said.
Eva Hoffmann, winner of the medicine prize, said dedicated colleagues and institutions that supported academic freedom had made it possible to uncover the mechanisms behind chromosomal abnormalities in eggs and gain new insights into the field. "I dedicate this honor to my Danish parents who raised me, to the Korean birth family I found after a long search, and to my fellow international adoptees who are still searching for their roots, as well as to the people of Korea," she said.
Soprano Jo Su-mi, winner of the arts prize, said she had held onto her belief in music and life through lonely and intense years, and had continually pushed to broaden the boundaries between classical music and the wider public. "I have walked this path with the conviction that music is ultimately for people and for the nation," she said. "As I mark 40 years since my debut, I will share that journey with even more people."
Oh Dong-chan, winner of the social service prize, said the recognition prompted him to look back on his 31 years at Sorokdo and reaffirm his original calling. "I will always remember my mother's dying words — to treat Hansen's disease patients warmly, as you would your own mother — and I will continue to work tirelessly to provide care for Hansen's disease patients at home and abroad, while spreading the message that they are non-contagious, ordinary members of our community," he said.
The Ho-Am Foundation plans to hold a special lecture next month for young students, inviting Nobel laureates and Ho-Am Prize winners to speak. The lectures will cover topics including the speakers' journeys in scientific research and the future facing young people, and a question-and-answer session with students is also planned. The event will be held July 4 at the Daejeon Convention Center.
The Samsung Ho-Am Prize was established in 1990 by the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee to honor the legacy of founder Lee Byung-chul — known by his pen name Ho-Am — and his belief in prioritizing talent and contributing to the public good. The prize recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to scholarship, the arts, social progress and human welfare. Through this year's 36th ceremony, a total of 188 recipients have received combined prize money of 37.9 billion won (about $25,200,000).
jeongwan@heraldcorp.com
