"Korean Education Raised Me... More Fields Medals Will Surely Follow"

[Q&A] Heo Jun-yi, Associate Professor at the Institute for Basic Science
Official Briefing with Domestic Media After Award Ceremony

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "Mathematicians should be able to conduct long-term research in a fun, enjoyable, and comfortable environment."

Junyi Heo (39, photo), the first Korean to win the Fields Medal, known as the 'Nobel Prize of Mathematics,' and a research professor at the Institute for Advanced Study as well as a professor at Princeton University, emphasized the importance of creating a free research environment for the emergence of a second 'Junyi Heo.' Currently staying in Helsinki, Finland, where the International Mathematical Union (IMU) World Congress of Mathematicians was held and the award ceremony took place, Professor Heo attended an official online press briefing with domestic media at the Korea Science and Technology Center on the afternoon of the 6th and made these remarks. Just as he was able to achieve good results by being deeply immersed in mathematical research with curiosity and enjoyment, he believes that providing the same environment to young mathematicians will allow Fields Medal winners to continue to emerge. Although he was once a 'dropout' who even left high school, he recalled that he had a warm and happy time in Korean education that made him who he is today.

Below is a Q&A with Professor Heo.

- How do you feel about receiving the award?

▲ (Professor Heo) I am happy to receive such a great award, and even happier that people around me are as joyful as if it were their own achievement. I will study steadily and calmly without feeling burdened.

(Kim Jong-hae, President of the Korean Mathematical Society) The dream I had when I was young has now come true, and I still can't believe it. Soon, there will be Nobel Prizes or additional Fields Medals.

- You enjoyed board games and computer chess games in your childhood. Did they help your mathematical thinking?

▲ I did not say they helped my mathematical thinking. Among school subjects, I had various reasons for not being fond of math. Games and chess require logical thinking, and in that sense, I was naturally drawn to them.

- When did you first hear the news of your award?

▲ I first heard the news earlier this year. The IMU president requested a call at an unusual time, and I hoped it might be about the Fields Medal award, and it was. Since it was nighttime and my wife was asleep, I hesitated but woke her up to tell her. She said, "Yes, I thought so," and went back to sleep. The award ceremony was originally scheduled to be held in Russia before the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, so we had planned a family trip, but it was canceled and moved to Helsinki, so I came alone. I will soon return to Korea to spend the summer as usual.

- What is the most valuable achievement among your research results?

▲ None of them are unimportant. I remember all the conclusions reached through one coincidence after another.

- You were educated in Korea. Were you satisfied with it?

▲ Since I only received Korean education, I don't know how it compares to other countries. Personally, it was a warm and satisfying childhood. From elementary to high school, I spent time with groups of 30 to 40 friends getting to know each other. There were good moments and fights too. Looking back, it was a precious period that provided the nutrients that made me who I am today, something only possible then.

- What needs to change or be supplemented for a second Junyi Heo to emerge in the Korean mathematical community?

▲ Young mathematicians are already doing very well, and I am one of them. It is awkward for me to say what should be done for another like me to appear. However, I hope that mathematicians can be provided with a relaxed and stable research environment where they do not feel burdened, do not pursue short-term goals, and can enjoy and comfortably carry out long-term projects.

- What is the charm of mathematics?

▲ Collaborative research has become very active in modern mathematics. The reason is that thinking together with colleagues is much more efficient and allows going deeper and further than working alone. Besides efficiency, the process itself brings great joy to mathematicians. It is like exchanging water, sometimes running out and decreasing, but as you move the container, it increases, and once it passes a certain level, principles that previously did not work become understood. I personally feel great satisfaction in the preparation process and an irresistible addiction. I have been captivated by the charm of mathematics for over ten years and have not been able to leave it.

- How do you spend your time besides studying?

▲ I don't have any special hobbies. My endurance is low, so I can't study for long hours, but I try to focus on research for about four hours a day. I spend the rest of the time with my family. I take care of the children, clean, and refresh my mind so that I can concentrate on research with a fresh mind the next day. I live the same daily routine every day.

- It was reported that you were once a math dropout?

▲ While sharing childhood stories with the media, I mentioned that I had difficulty memorizing multiplication tables in second grade, which disappointed my parents, and this was misunderstood as being a math dropout. I was not a dropout. I was above average, so calling me a dropout is inaccurate. As I grew older and entered high school, I found math interesting and studied hard. I entered the physics department not only because of my interest in math but also because I wanted to live a life of writing, especially poetry, which I loved. However, I wondered how to make a living through writing, and after realizing it was impossible with my writing talent, I decided to become a science journalist, a field I found interesting and thought I had aptitude for, so I entered the physics department. After some twists and turns and a leave of absence while considering my career path, I returned and by chance took a 'Topology' class that fit my schedule and had an attractive title, where I first felt the charm of mathematics. Later, I became even more captivated by attending algebra lectures by Professor Heisuke Hironaka.

- Could you explain your award-winning achievements in simple terms?

▲ Mathematics has historically developed into several major branches, each evolving independently: geometry studies space, analysis studies change, and discrete mathematics is another branch. Each requires different human intuition and developed independently for historical reasons. However, not only I but also many seniors and colleagues have confirmed that when these three different research fields are studied deeply enough, the same pattern called the 'Hodge structure' repeatedly emerges. Identical patterns repeatedly appear in mathematically unrelated objects. My research mostly contributed to discovering these patterns one by one and, if possible, explaining why such identical patterns repeatedly appear in seemingly unrelated structures.

- Did you have role models or mentors while studying?

▲ I consider myself very fortunate. Whenever I faced difficult math problems or life dilemmas, I met teachers or friends who taught me what I needed at the time. Rather than having a single role model, I keep a small notebook listing teachers and friends I personally consider heroes and the things I want to learn from them. They are all my role models. Since there are more than dozens, it would be unfair to pick just one person.

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