The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity (KOSAC) said on the 14th that all five members of the Korea team won medals (five golds) at the 56th International Physics Olympiad. The International Physics Olympiad is a competition where science prodigies from around the world face off. The winners are a group of five from Seoul Science High School.
At the 56th International Physics Olympiad, held in Colombia on the 4th–12th of this month, students Kim Mu-yeon, Oh Ju-ha, Lee Gwon-heon, Lee Seung-jun, and Jeong Min-gwon (all third-years at Seoul Science High School) each received a gold medal. Student Oh Ju-ha ranked first overall among the participants. It is the first time in four years since 2023 that all five members of the Korea team have won gold medals.
The International Physics Olympiad is a competition that began in 1967 in Warsaw, Poland, when five Eastern Bloc countries gathered. It is held every July, rotating among countries, to discover youths with interest and talent in physics, encourage them, spark their sense of challenge, and pursue the advancement of physics.
The exam consisted of three theory problems (30 points) and one experimental problem (20 points), for a total of 50 points. This year's theory exam covered the principles of low-temperature cooling using magnetic materials, light concentration and the principles of solar cookers, sluice gates, electron–positron, and the mechanics of ozone decomposition, while the experimental exam dealt with measuring vapor pressure and thermal conductivity, comprehensively evaluating scientific analysis skills along with experimental execution ability.
Shin Yong-il, chair of the Korea Physics Olympiad Committee of the Korean Physical Society, who led the Korea team at the 56th International Physics Olympiad, said, "I am very pleased that the entire Korea team achieved the outstanding result of winning gold medals," and added, "I sincerely root for them to continue to grow their dreams and capabilities in science and develop into talents who will lead the future."
Meanwhile, after the International Physics Olympiad, this year's Korea team is scheduled to compete in the International Science Olympiads in chemistry (July 10–19), biology (July 12–19), and mathematics (July 10–21), in that order.