SEOUL — Lee Jae-yong, Executive Chairman of Samsung Electronics, attended the 36th annual Samsung Hoam Prize ceremony today, reinforcing his commitment to the "Talent First" philosophy established by the conglomerate's founders.
The prestigious event was held on the afternoon of June 1, 2026, at the Dynasty Hall of the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Chairman Lee has attended the ceremony, underscoring the top management's continuous dedication to fostering academic excellence, cultural development, and humanitarian efforts.
A Gathering of Korea's Top Corporate Leadership
Chairman Lee arrived at the venue at approximately 3:49 PM, just ahead of the official commencement at 4:00 PM. His presence highlighted the deep-rooted significance of the awards within Samsung’s overarching corporate identity.
In addition to Chairman Lee, the ceremony was attended by Samsung's top brass, reflecting the event's high status within the business group. Notable attendees included:
Roh Tae-moon, President and Head of the DX (Device eXperience) Division at Samsung Electronics
Park Yong-in, President and Head of the System LSI Business
Kim Yong-kwan, President of Corporate Strategy for the DS (Device Solutions) Division
The venue was filled with approximately 270 guests, including the laureates' families, close acquaintances, and prominent figures from academia, the arts, and various cultural sectors.
Honoring a Legacy of Social Contribution
The Samsung Hoam Prize was established in 1990 by the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee. It was created to honor the "Talent First" and social welfare spirit of his father, the late Samsung founder Lee Byung-chull, whose pen name was Hoam.
The prize is designed to recognize and reward individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of science, culture, the arts, and the welfare of humanity. Including this year's 36th edition, the Hoam Prize has honored a total of 188 laureates, presenting an aggregate of 37.9 billion KRW (approximately $27.5 million USD) in prize money over the decades.
Celebrating the 2026 Laureates
For the 2026 edition, six distinguished individuals were recognized across various disciplines. Each laureate was presented with a diploma, a pure gold medal, and a cash prize of 300 million KRW, bringing the total prize pool for this year to 1.8 billion KRW.
The distinguished recipients of the 2026 Samsung Hoam Prize are:
Science Prize (Physics & Mathematics): Oh Sung-jin (37), Professor at UC Berkeley
Science Prize (Chemistry & Life Sciences): Yoon Tae-shik (51), Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Engineering Prize: Kim Bum-man (79), Professor Emeritus at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology)
Medicine Prize: Eva Hoffmann (51), Professor at the University of Copenhagen
Arts Prize: Sumi Jo (63), World-renowned Soprano
Community Service Prize: Oh Dong-chan (58), Director of Medical Affairs at the National Sorokdo Hospital
The inclusion of highly respected figures, such as Soprano Sumi Jo for her cultural contributions and Dr. Oh Dong-chan for his lifelong dedication to Hansen's disease patients at Sorokdo Hospital, highlighted the diverse and profound impact of this year's awardees.
Messages of Inspiration and Future Prospects
The ceremony proceeded with an opening address by Kim Hwang-sik, Chairman of the Hoam Foundation, followed by a screening report by Selection Committee Chairman Eo Do-sun. The event concluded with acceptance speeches from the laureates and a congratulatory address by Yoo Hong-lim, President of Seoul National University. Sven Lidin, Chairman of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, also attended the event as a special guest.
"It is our greatest joy and pride to host the laureates who have earned the honor of the Hoam Prize through their extraordinary achievements," said Kim Hwang-sik during his opening speech. "We deeply honor the meaningful accomplishments of the winners, who have contributed to the advancement of science, technology, culture, and the arts with their creative wisdom, academic passion, and devotion."
SNU President Yoo Hong-lim echoed this sentiment in his congratulatory remarks, stating that the Hoam Prize celebrates the core values of human spirit—reason, practice, and beauty. He emphasized that even in a rapidly changing world, the pursuit of truth and human dignity remains the driving force behind human civilization.
Looking ahead, the Hoam Foundation announced plans to expand its educational outreach. On July 4, 2026, the foundation will host a special youth lecture series at the Daejeon Convention Center, featuring Nobel laureates and Hoam Prize winners to inspire the next generation of scientists and thinkers.
[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]
