Korea Forest Welfare Institute Wins Gold Medal at World Invention Creativity Olympic

The Korea Forest Welfare Institute announced on July 25 that the Forest Welfare Research and Development Center won the gold medal at the 14th World Invention Creativity Olympic (WICO 2025).

This competition featured 313 entries from 25 countries worldwide. The entry from the Forest Welfare Research and Development Center, called the "FOWI Pen," is a forest welfare educational tool for young children. It was awarded the gold medal in recognition of its creativity, technological innovation, and presentation skills.

Kang Byunghun, a senior researcher at the Korea Forest Welfare Institute Forest Welfare Research and Development Center, is taking a commemorative photo after receiving the gold prize at the World Invention Creativity Olympics award ceremony. Provided by Korea Forest Welfare Institute Forest Welfare Research and Development Center

The "FOWI Pen" was developed as a dedicated educational tool for orienteering activities, where young children solve quizzes and search for treasure boxes in the forest.

Its distinguishing feature is that it adapts existing educational tools originally designed for seniors to be practical and suitable for young children. The "FOWI Pen" has a unique structure with a locking mechanism and internal storage space, and a patent application for this design was completed last year.

The Forest Welfare Research and Development Center presented case studies on the use of the "FOWI Pen" and the results of program effectiveness analysis at this competition. In the future, the center plans to distribute programs linked to the "FOWI Pen" to private forest welfare service providers.

Choi Jungho, head of the Forest Welfare Research and Development Center, stated, "We will continue to conduct practical research to further advance forest welfare content."

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