Professors Ilho Lee and Wonyong Choi Awarded Korea Toray Science and Technology Prize

Scientists Contributing to Chemistry and Materials Fields Selected Annually

The Korea Toray Science Promotion Foundation announced on the 3rd that it has selected Professor Ilho Lee of the Department of Chemistry at Kangwon National University and Professor Wonyong Choi of the Department of Energy Engineering at Korea Energy Engineering University as recipients of the '7th Korea Toray Science and Technology Award.'

Professor Ilho Lee of the Department of Chemistry at Kangwon National University (left) and Professor Wonyong Choi of the Department of Energy Engineering at Korea Energy Science and Technology University [Photo provided by Korea Toray Science Promotion Foundation]

Professor Lee, the awardee in the basic fields of chemistry and materials, was recognized for his achievements in leading academic advancements in catalytic organic reactions, contributing to the growth of Korea's basic science and precision chemical industry. He gained global attention by being the first in the world to extend the Buchner reaction to the realm of non-benzenoid compounds, presenting a new strategy for selective synthesis.

Professor Choi, the awardee in the applied field, was highly praised for elevating the status of Korean science through his world-class achievements in developing new types of environmentally functional photocatalyst materials, such as visible light photocatalysts and photocatalyst surface modification methods. Since 2019, he has been selected for five consecutive years as one of the 'World's Most Influential Researchers.'

The foundation will hold an award ceremony on the 22nd of next month and will present each of them with a prize of 100 million won.

Additionally, the foundation selected five young scientists as recipients of the Korea Toray Fellowship. Each will receive 150 million won in research funding over three years. The awardees in the basic fields are Professor Hanyong Bae of the Department of Chemistry at Sungkyunkwan University and Professor Jungmo Choi of the Department of Chemistry at Pusan National University; in the applied fields are Professor Jungmin Kim of the Department of Applied Bioengineering at Seoul National University, Professor Hobum Kim of the Department of New Materials Engineering at GIST, and Professor Daehyun Nam of the Department of New Materials Engineering at Korea University.

The Korea Toray Science and Technology Award and Fellowship recipients were selected through a rigorous review process after soliciting candidates from April to June this year.

The Korea Toray Science Promotion Foundation is a public interest corporation established for the advancement of science and technology in Korea. To date, it has awarded 12 Science and Technology Awards, provided a total of 3 billion won in research funding to 25 fellowship recipients, and sponsored scholarships for over 200 science and engineering university students.