Catholic Church Announces Life Mystery Award Contest... Total Prize Money 60 Million Won

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] The Life Committee of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul will hold the 17th Mystery of Life Award contest from next month 1st to May 31st.

The Mystery of Life Award was established by the Life Committee to encourage academic research and spread a culture of life, implementing the Catholic Church's teachings on the dignity of human life.

The contest categories include three sections: life sciences, humanities and social sciences, and activities. Awards are given for the grand prize and encouragement prize in each category, and an overall grand prize is selected across all categories. Winners will receive a commemorative plaque in the name of the Archbishop of Seoul along with prize money of 30 million KRW for the grand prize, 20 million KRW for the main prize, and 10 million KRW for the encouragement prize, respectively.

The life sciences category awards individuals or organizations who have contributed to the advancement of life sciences based on Catholic bioethics through outstanding achievements in adult stem cell research and cell therapy research. However, research fields that violate Catholic bioethics, such as research or intervention on human germ cells or human embryos, are excluded.

The humanities and social sciences category awards individuals or organizations who have produced research achievements or academic publications based on Catholic bioethics in fields such as ethics, philosophy, sociology, law, theology, and other related disciplines.

The activities category awards individuals and organizations who have contributed to spreading a culture of life by protecting and caring for human life and promoting the dignity of human life.

Father Park Jung-woo, Secretary General of the Life Committee, said, “Unlike the specialized fields of life sciences and humanities and social sciences, the activities category is for recommending individuals or organizations working to protect vulnerable lives around them,” and requested much interest.

At the 16th Mystery of Life Award, the grand prize was awarded to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the main prize in life sciences to Professor Shin Geun-yu (Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology), the activities category to the Seoul Southern Elderly Protection Center, and the encouragement prize in activities to the nonprofit organization Nanum and Nanum.

The winners of the 17th award will be announced during the 'Life Mass' on Life Protection Sunday at Myeongdong Cathedral on December 4th, and the award ceremony is scheduled to be held in January 2023.

Detailed information can be found on the Life Committee's Mystery of Life Award website. The submission deadline is May 31st, and applications can be submitted by mail or email.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.