Korea Achieves Overall 1st Place at the International Physics Olympiad

All 5 Participants Win Gold Medals

South Korea achieved overall first place at the International Physics Olympiad with all participants winning gold medals.

On the 17th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that all five students of the Korean delegation won gold medals at the 53rd International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), held in Tokyo, Japan, from the 10th to the 17th.

A total of 387 students from 86 countries around the world competed. The Korean delegation consisted of No Yiheon (Seoul Science High School, Grade 3), Seo Gyumin (Seoul Science High School, Grade 3), Lee Junseo (Seoul Science High School, Grade 3), Lee Hyunchae (Seoul Science High School, Grade 3), and Han Jongyun (Gyeonggi Science High School, Grade 3), all of whom won gold medals. As a result, South Korea tied with China for first place in the overall national ranking.

The International Physics Olympiad consists of an experimental test and a theoretical test, each lasting 5 hours over two days, and is evaluated out of 50 points, combining 20 points for the experiment and 30 points for the theory. This year’s experimental test included problems on “Mass measurement using the principle of the Kibble balance” and “Thickness measurement using the refraction phenomenon of light.” The theoretical test covered topics such as “Characteristics of small soil particles floating in liquid,” “Neutron stars and gravitational waves,” and “Surface tension of water.” The Kibble balance is a device that measures the mass of an object by estimating the gravitational force acting on it through electromagnetic force and is used to define the 1 kg mass standard.

The students representing South Korea at this year’s International Physics Olympiad were selected through correspondence education, winter schools, and intensive training provided by the Korean Physical Society, as well as through the Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO).

Kim Jaewan, Chair of the Korean Physics Olympiad Committee at the Korean Physical Society, said, “I am proud of the students who overcame the long and challenging process to participate in the International Physics Olympiad with their interest and passion for physics,” adding, “I hope that not only these students but all who participated in Olympiad education will develop their talents in various fields based on their valuable experiences and grow into leaders who will guide South Korea.”

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