Professor Baek Min-kyung of Seoul National University and Others Receive the '2024 Science Journalism Award'

Professor Baek Min-kyung, Seoul National University

Professor Min-Kyung Baek of Seoul National University, who has led protein research through artificial intelligence alongside David Baker, a professor at the University of Washington in the United States and the 2024 Nobel Chemistry laureate, received the ‘2024 Science Journalism Award’ selected by the Korea Science Journalists Association (President Yongha Yoo).

Professor Baek, together with Professor Chang-Young Kim of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Seoul National University and Professor Il-Joo Cho of the College of Medicine at Korea University, received the ‘Scientist of the Year Award chosen by journalists.’ The awardees were selected by a panel of 30 judges composed of journalists specializing in science and medicine.

Like the achievements recognized by this year’s Nobel Chemistry Prize, Professor Min-Kyung Baek is conducting pioneering research that expands the understanding of biomolecular functions such as protein structure, interactions, and binding structure prediction using artificial intelligence (AI). Her work has made a significant impact in academia and industry, being selected as the ‘Innovative Research of the Year’ by the scientific journal Science.

Professor Chang-Young Kim is a leading researcher in the field of electronic structure in solid-state physics. Last year, during the controversy over room-temperature superconductors, he served as the chair of the LK-99 verification committee, contributing to scientific fact-checking and communication with the media.

Professor Il-Joo Cho has focused on securing domestic competitiveness in brain engineering technology through research and development of brain chips and neural interface systems, as well as the commercialization of photostimulation brain chips. He was recognized for his contributions to popularizing brain science and advancing policy through public lectures, media interviews, and related committee activities, leading to his selection as an awardee.

The ‘Korea Science Journalist Award’ was jointly awarded to Sang-Wook Park of JTBC and Hwe-Young Yang of YTN Science. The science article awards for the second half of the year went to Jae-Won Ko of Maeil Business Newspaper, Ji-Won Choi of Dong-A Ilbo, and the Science Chosun Department (Medical Bio Team: Jeong-A Lee and Ji-Yoon Heo) of Chosun Biz. The ‘Merck Medical Article Award’ was given to the SBS Policy and Society Reporting Team and the Chosun Ilbo Social Policy Reporting Team.

The ‘Science Communicator Award’ was presented to Hye-Ri Jang, CEO of Art & Science, who has contributed to science popularization through original methods such as pansori, musicals, and theater based on scientific themes, and to Tae-Woo Kang, Chief Administrator at the Korea Brain Research Institute affiliated with Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), who has actively contributed to spreading social consensus on science through academic and literary activities addressing major future societal issues arising from advanced convergence technologies including neuroscience.

O Eun-Sung, Head of External Cooperation and Public Relations at the Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology; Lee Hyun-Jung, Head of Media Communication at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute; and Jeong Ji-Ho, Senior Administrator of External Cooperation at the Korea Institute of Materials Science were also selected as recipients of the Science Communicator Award.