The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity (KOSAC) announced on the 29th that all five members of the Korean delegation won medals (4 gold and 1 silver) at the 55th International Physics Olympiad, securing second place overall. This competition took place in Paris, France, from the 17th to the 25th.
In this competition, which saw participation from 415 students across 94 countries, the Korean delegation included Lee Yeon-ho (Seoul Science High School, 2nd year), Lee Hyuk-jun (Seoul Science High School, 3rd year), Choi Jeong-min (Gyeonggi Science High School, 3rd year), and Han Ji-hyung (Seoul Science High School, 3rd year) winning gold medals, while Jang Geun-young (Seoul Science High School, 3rd year) won a silver medal. Notably, Lee Hyuk-jun, who won a gold medal, achieved the highest overall score among all participants.
The 55th International Physics Olympiad consisted of theoretical and experimental examinations, each lasting 5 hours. The exam questions included 3 theoretical problems (30 points) and 2 experimental problems (20 points), evaluated on a total of 50 points. This year's theoretical exam featured questions about the distribution and movement of stars within galaxies, the operational principles of the Cox clock, and the launch of bubbles in champagne, while the experimental exam included questions on measuring Earth's magnetic field and the movement of marbles in sand, combining scientific analytical skills with practical experimental abilities.
Shin Yong-il, chair of the Korean Physics Olympiad Committee, expressed, "I am very pleased that all members of the Korean delegation achieved the outstanding result of winning medals," and noted, "I am proud of the students who have worked diligently amidst their busy studies to showcase the honor of our country, and I hope they continue to pursue their dreams and talents in science."