Jeon Young-hyun (back row, far right), head of Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions division, poses with this year's International Physics Olympiad winners (all, front row) after presenting them with scholarships at Samsung Electronics' Hwaseong campus on Aug. 13. [Samsung]
Jeon Young-hyun (back row, far right), head of Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions division, poses with this year's International Physics Olympiad winners (all, front row) after presenting them with scholarships at Samsung Electronics' Hwaseong campus on Aug. 13. [Samsung]

Samsung said Monday it had invited 15 South Korean national team members who won medals at last month's International Mathematical, Physics and Biology Olympiads, along with their parents, to its campuses for scholarship ceremonies and lunches with affiliate chief executives.

Roh Tae-moon, president and head of Samsung Electronics' Device Experience (DX) division, presented scholarships to six International Mathematical Olympiad winners — three gold medalists, two silver medalists and one honorable mention — at the company's Suwon campus on Aug. 11.

The ceremony was attended by the six winners and their parents, as well as Kwak Si-jong, president of the Korean Mathematical Society, and other officials from the olympiad organizing body.

Jeon Young-hyun, vice chairman and head of Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) division, presented scholarships to five International Physics Olympiad winners — all gold medalists — at the Hwaseong campus on Aug. 13. The five winners and their parents attended, along with Yun Jin-hee, president of the Korean Physical Society, and others.

Roh Tae-moon (third from left), head of Samsung Electronics' DX division, poses with this year's International Mathematical Olympiad winners (fourth through ninth from left) after a scholarship ceremony at Samsung Electronics' Suwon campus on Aug. 11. [Samsung]
Roh Tae-moon (third from left), head of Samsung Electronics' DX division, poses with this year's International Mathematical Olympiad winners (fourth through ninth from left) after a scholarship ceremony at Samsung Electronics' Suwon campus on Aug. 11. [Samsung]

Kim Kyung-ah, president of Samsung Bioepis, presented scholarships to four International Biology Olympiad winners — all gold medalists — at the company's Songdo headquarters on Aug. 14. Kim Jae-geun, chairman of the Korean Biology Olympiad Committee, the four winners and their parents also attended.

The international olympiad competitions were held across four countries over the past month: mathematics in China (Aug. 10–21), physics in Colombia (Aug. 4–12), biology in Lithuania (Aug. 12–19) and chemistry in Uzbekistan (Aug. 10–19). The International Olympiad in Informatics was held in Uzbekistan from Aug. 9–16.

South Korea sent a total of 43 competitors: six in mathematics, five in physics, and four each in biology, chemistry and informatics. In mathematics, 666 students from 117 countries competed, and South Korea finished sixth overall with three gold medals, two silver medals and one honorable mention.

The physics competition drew 381 participants from 91 countries, while biology drew 302 from 78 countries. South Korea's team swept gold in both subjects, finishing first overall in each.

Samsung Bioepis President Kim Kyung-ah (center) poses with this year's International Biology Olympiad winners at a scholarship ceremony at Samsung Bioepis' Songdo headquarters on Aug. 14. [Samsung]
Samsung Bioepis President Kim Kyung-ah (center) poses with this year's International Biology Olympiad winners at a scholarship ceremony at Samsung Bioepis' Songdo headquarters on Aug. 14. [Samsung]

Earlier, Samsung Electronics signed sponsorship agreements with the Korean Mathematical Society (mathematics) and the Korean Physical Society (physics) in June last year, while Samsung Biologics and Samsung Bioepis signed an agreement with the Korean Society of Biology Education (biology) in January this year.

The sponsorship funds cover the selection, training and competition participation costs of South Korea's international olympiad teams. Samsung affiliates also separately award scholarships to top-performing winners in each subject.

The initiative is part of Samsung's broader effort to raise public awareness of the importance of basic science and to support future talent in science and technology.

In line with its "people first" management philosophy, Samsung has continued to nurture science and engineering talent in South Korea. Beyond supporting the olympiad national teams, the company has also backed skilled-trade talent since 2007.

Samsung operates a national training center for the WorldSkills Competition and offers special hiring programs for high-school-educated technical talent who achieve outstanding results at domestic and international skills competitions.


joze@heraldcorp.com