The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Korea Media and Communication Commission (KMCC) jointly held the 2026 anniversary of Science/ Information & Communication Day at the former Korea Science and Technology Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on April 21 and awarded orders and other government prizes to those who have contributed to the development of science, technology and information & communication sectors and national R&D outcome evaluations.
The event took place on the occasion of the 59th anniversary of Science Day, which fell on April 21 and the 71st anniversary of Information and Communication Day, which fell on April 22. Among those on hand were Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, MSIT Vice Minister Koo Hyuk-chae, Chairman Kwon Oh-nam of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies (KOFST), and ICT Chmn. Noh Joon-hyung.
One hundred and forty-nine out of 163 prize winners were given prizes at the event.
The presentation was made in three sectors – science and technology promotion, national R&D outcome evaluation, and information and communication.
Eighty-nine people were awarded from the science and technology promotion sector, while 21 people were given prizes in the national R&D outcome evaluation field.
Fifty-four others received government prizes in the ICT sector.
The coveted Order of Science and Technology Merit, Changjo Medal, the first-grade one of the science and technology promotion sector, went to Prof. V. Narry Kim of Seoul National University (SNU), and Prof. Kim Jung-sang, Duke University.
Prof. V. Narry Kim at SNU has been credited with research on microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis and RNA regulation, which has massive implications for understanding diseases like cancer.
Prof. Kim of Duke University has been praised for introducing the world’s first expanded structure of an ion trap quantum computer.
President Kim Jang-woo of MangoBoost Korea and Prof. Cha Mee-young of KAIST were honored with the Order of Science and Technology Merit Hyeoksin Medal (2nd Grade).
President Kim has been lauded for his contribution to developing AI data treatment semiconductors while Prof. Cha has been recognized for researching on solutions to social problems using AI and big data.
Among science and technology merit medal, presidential prize and prime minister’s award winners were researchers and industry figures, such as those focusing on nano convergence product commercialization, mobile security, nuclear fusion simulation, EV bus energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reductions, and smart manufacturing based on digital twin.
Twenty-one people were honored with orders and other government prizes from the national R&D outcome evaluation sector.
Prof. Huh Won-do of KAIST was honored with the Order of Science and Technology, Ungbi Medal for expanding the possibility of curing brain diseases through molecular optogenetics research.
Prof. Kim Ho-kyung of Seoul National University was presented with the Order of Science and Technology, Doyak Medal for developing a technology to install offshore floating infrastructure.
Kim Chan-soo, a senior researcher with KIST, and Kim Hae-jin, a principal researcher with ETRI, were decorated with the Science and Technology Medal.
Kim of KIST has been credited with verifying a technology that enables AI learning while protecting personal information.
Kim of ETRI has been recognized for transferring a technology in the robot hand sector through development of a 3D tactile sensing.
Among the six presidential award winners were Prof. Choi Hyung-jin of Seoul National University and President Lee Myung-hee of Sapien Semiconductor.
Prof. Choi of SNU has been credited with contributing to developing drugs to treat metabolic diseases, such as obesity by identifying a principle of brain function by GLP-1, a crucial incretin hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, for the first time.
President Lee Myung-hee of Sapien Semiconductor was honored for developing a super-small display driving semiconductor for AR.
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