Korea wins top honor at International Physics Olympiad

Korea won top honor jointly with China at this year`s International Physics Olympiad. The competition drew 381 students from 83 countries.

The Science, ICT and Future Planning Ministry and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity said Monday that Korea finished first at the 44th International Physics Olympiad held in Copenhagen, Denmark from July 7 to 9. Ranking top for the third time, Korea saw all participating five high school students win gold medals including Kim Dong-Hoe (11th grade at Seoul Science High School), Kim Jae-won (12th grade at Gyeonggi Science High School), Lee Jae-ha (12th grade at Seoul Science High School), Lee Chang-hyeon (12th grade at Seoul Science High School) and Jeong Sang-soo (12th grade at Seoul Science High School).

The delegation was led by physics Professor Jeon Dong-ryul of Seoul National University (delegation head) and physics Professor Lee Moo-hui at Konkuk University (vice-head). China also won five gold and enjoyed 10 successive wins since 2004. Russia and Singapore finished in joint third place with four gold and one silver. The U.S., Thailand and Taiwan tied at fifth with three gold and two silver medals.

The Olympiad began in 1967 in Warsaw of Poland with five east European countries joining. The competition is participated by students talented in science and aged 20 or lower without college education. Korea made debut in 1992 and has since joined the event every year.

The future ministry said, "We will keep on discovering and fostering science talents who have potential in basic science."