The Ho-Am Foundation announced on May 2 that it has selected a total of six '2025 Ho-Am Prize winners,' including Shin Seok-woo, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who is regarded as a world-class mathematician.
This year's awardees include Shin Seok-woo (47), professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in the science award for physics and mathematics; Jeong Jong-kyung (62), professor at Seoul National University, in the science award for chemistry and life sciences; Kim Seung-woo (69), emeritus professor at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), in the engineering award; Gloria Choi (47), professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in the medical award; Koo Bon-chang (72), photographer, in the arts award; and Kim Dong-hae (60), chairman of VisionCare, a non-profit organization, in the social service award.
The winners were selected through a rigorous evaluation process lasting four months, which included a committee of 46 top experts from various fields, including Nobel Prize winners, and a 63-member advisory board composed entirely of foreign scholars, as well as on-site investigations. Each awardee in the institutional sector receives a certificate, a medal, and a prize of 300 million won, and the awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on May 30 (Friday).
Regarding Professor Shin Seok-woo, the Ho-Am Foundation described him as "an innovator who breaks the boundaries of mathematics" and praised him as a world-class mathematician who has contributed to the advancement of modern number theory by establishing various cases of the 'Langlands conjecture' that integrates key themes in mathematics into a single theory and builds a theoretical foundation. The Ho-Am Foundation noted, "Dr. Shin's research is expected to propose a new approach to solving challenging problems in modern mathematics and contribute to the advancement of various fields."
Jeong Jong-kyung, a professor at Seoul National University and recipient of the science award for chemistry and life sciences, is a leading cell biologist who first identified the mechanism and function of a gene causing Parkinson's disease and proved that the selective removal of damaged mitochondria is crucial for preventing and treating the disease. Dr. Jeong's research has contributed to the understanding of degenerative diseases based on genetic mutations by revealing that the gene causing Parkinson's is also critical for cell metabolism and homeostasis.
Kim Seung-woo, emeritus professor at KAIST and recipient of the engineering award, is a global engineer who has pioneered ultra-precise optical measurement technology with dramatically improved accuracy and stable control using femtosecond lasers. Dr. Kim's technology is utilized in various advanced industries, including defect removal in semiconductor and display manufacturing processes, as well as distance measurement between satellites.
Gloria Choi is a world-renowned neuroscientist who identified that the overactivity of the immune system during pregnancy can interfere with fetal brain development and increase the risk of autism, and has shown that it is possible to alleviate autism symptoms using the immune system. Dr. Choi's research on the immune-neural interaction is expected to contribute to the development of prevention and treatment methods for intractable brain diseases such as autism, depression, and dementia.
In the field of arts, Koo Bon-chang, a photographer who pioneered the art of photography in Korea and widely promoted Korean traditional beauty, was selected, while in the social service category, Kim Dong-hae, the chairman who dedicated himself to treating and serving those suffering from visual impairments across borders and races, was recognized.
Koo Bon-chang has been a pioneer, broadening the horizons of modern photography in Korea through works that combine delicate artistic sensibilities with exceptional photography skills since the 1980s. Koo's series "Bokja" and "Tal" have been displayed in prestigious art museums worldwide, elevating the status of Korean photographic art.
Since establishing the international non-governmental organization (NGO) VisionCare in 2005 to protect the vision of socially vulnerable individuals in underdeveloped countries and restore their light, Kim Dong-hae has treated a total of 230,000 people in 39 countries alongside domestic and international medical personnel and volunteers. Currently, he is focused on building a locally-centered medical care system by establishing branches in 11 countries, including Ethiopia, and providing training for medical staff and medical equipment support.