# Scientist of the Year Award

Scientist of the Year Award (Korean: 올해의 과학자상) is one of several awards given in South Korea by the Korea Science Journalists Association [ko]. From 1985, it was awarded to one individual. From 1999, it was given to three winners, each within their own category, which changed to one category and one winner in 1996, removed the category system from 2011, and allowed multiple winners the following year. Laureates receive a medal and 3 million KRW (roughly US$3,000) cash prize.
Other awards given by the Association include the Korea Science Journalist Award, Korea Medical Scholarship Award, Korean Medical Science Award, and Contribution Award for Science and Medicine PR.

## Laureates

Spelling of laureates' names matches their Wikipedia page, if it exists, the remainder uses Revised Romanization of Korean. Job position and institution information are from the Korea Science Journalists Association's website.
| Year | Scientist of the Year | Position (if stated) and institution |
| 1985 | Yun Hansik [ko] (윤한식) | Senior researcher, KAIST |
| 1986 | Lee Wonyeong (이원영) | Professor, College of Medicine, Yonsei University |
| 1987 | Kim Young-gil (김영길) | KAIST |
| 1988 | Park Jong-sei (박종세) | Director, Olympic Doping Control Center |
| 1989 | Bak Sangcheol (박상철) | College of Medicine, Seoul National University |
| 1990 | Hong Jubong (홍주봉) | Genetic Engineering Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology |
| 1991 | Lee Jinhyo (이진효) | Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute |
| 1992 | Kim Sutae (김수태) | Seoul National University |
| 1993 | Bak Geonyu (박건유) | Korea Institute of Science and Technology |
| 1994 | Lee Dongyeong (이동영) | Professor, Department of Physics, POSTECH |
| 1995 | – | – |
| 1996 | Chon Kilnam (전길남) | Professor, Department of Computer Science, KAIST |
| 1997 | Gwon Odae (권오대) | Professor, Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, POSTECH |
| 1998 | Ihm Jisoon (임지순) | Professor, Department of Physics, Seoul National University |
| 1999 | Lee Hyeoncheol (이현철) Ahn Cheol-soo (안철수) Hwang Woo-suk (황우석) | Yonsei University Medical College Director, AhnLab, Inc. Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University |
| 2000 | Bak Byeongyeop (박병엽) Lee Yeonguk [ko] (이영욱) | Vice Chairman, Pantech (팬택) Professor of Astronomy and Space Science, Yonsei University |
| 2001 | Lee Hyeoncheol (이현철) Lee Gitae [ko] (이기태) Ryu Seongeon (류성언) | Medical College, Yonsei University Samsung Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology |
| 2002 | Bak Gwiwon (박귀원) Lee Gyeongju (이경주) Bae Seokcheol (배석철) | Professor, Seoul National University President, KTF Professor, Chungbuk National University |
| 2003 | Jo Yunae (조윤애) No Yongman (노용만) Jo Junmyeong (조준명) | Professor, Anam Hospital, Korea University Professor, Korea Information and Communication University Crystal Genomics (크리스탈지노믹스) |
| 2004 | Song Jaehun (송재훈) Gwon Suncheol (권순철) Lee Sangyeol (이상열) | Professor, Sungkyunkwan University Managing director, KT Corporation Professor, Gyeongsang National University |
| 2005 | Kim Gyeonggyu (김경규) Kim Yanggyun (김양균) Kim Donguk [ko] (김동욱) | School of Science, Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea |
| 2006 | Lee Sangyeop (이상엽) | Professor, Dept. of Biotechnology, KAIST |
| 2007 | Lee Jio (이지오) | KAIST |
| 2008 | Seo Yeongjun (서영준) | College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University |
| 2009 | Jang Gyutae (장규태) | National Primate Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology |
| 2010 | Park Jong Oh (박종오) | Director, Robot Research Institute, Chonnam National University |
| 2011 | Bak Wancheol (박완철) | Korea Institute of Science and Technology |
| 2012 | Choe Honam (최호남) Han Donggeun (한동근) Kim Jongyeol (김종열) Kim Segwang (김세광) | Head of Information Service Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information Biomaterial Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Director, Policy Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine Foundry Technology Center, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology |
| 2013 | Park Jong Oh (박종오) Lee Sangyeop (이상엽) Min Gyeongchan (민경찬) Kim Seunghwan (김승환) Seo Gapyang (posthumous) (서갑양) Gang Gwanhyeong (posthumous) (강관형) | Professor, Chonnam National University Professor, KAIST Professor of Mathematics, Yonsei University Professor, POSTECH Seoul National University POSTECH |
| 2014 | Lee Yungnam (이융남) Bak Hyeongju (박형주) Seong Yeongcheol (성영철) | Director, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources Professor of Mathematics, POSTECH Professor, Department of Life Convergence, POSTECH |
| 2015 | Kim Jin-soo (김진수) Oh Junho [ko] (오준호) Bang Yeongju [ko] (방영주) | Director, Center for Genome Engineering, Institute for Basic Science, & Professor, Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University Professor of Mechanical Engineering, KAIST Professor, College of Medicine, Seoul National University |
| 2016 | Kim V. Narry (김빛내리) Han Hoseong (한호성) Hong Taegyeong (홍태경) | Director, Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, & Professor, School of Life Sciences, Seoul National University Professor, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Professor, Department of Earth System Science, Yonsei University |
| 2017 | Im Myeongsin (임명신) Charles Surh (posthumous) (찰스서) Korean Gravitational Wave Group (한국중력파연구협력단) | Professor, Seoul National University Director, Academy of Immunology and Microbiology, Institute for Basic Science Korean Gravitational Wave Group |
| 2018 | Axel Timmermann (악셀 팀머만) Nam-Gyu Park (박남규) Korea Aerospace Research Institute (한국항공우주연구원) | Director, Center for Climate Physics, Institute for Basic Science Professor, School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University Korea Aerospace Research Institute |
| 2019 | Kim Ildu (김일두) Inhee Mook-Jung (묵인희) Lee Jinhan (이진한) | Professor of Advanced Materials Engineering, KAIST Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Seoul National University College of Medicine Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea University |
| 2020 | Koh Gou Young (고규영) Kim Beomtae (김범태) Jang Hyesik (장혜식) | Director, Center for Vascular Research, Institute for Basic Science Director, Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Professor, Department of Life Sciences, Seoul National University |
| 2021 | Seok Sangil (석상일) Lee Juni (이준이) Choe Jaeuk (최재욱) Hong Jeongju (홍정주) | Professor, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology Professor, Pusan National University, Climate & Atmospheric Dynamics Lab Professor, Korea University, Department of Preventative Medicine Senior researcher, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Primate Center |
| 2022 | Ko Jeonghwan (고정환) Jeong Sujong (정수종) Huh June (허준이) | Director, Korea Launch Vehicle Development Project, Korea Aerospace Research Institute Professor, Department of Environmental Planning, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University Professor of mathematics, Princeton University and distinguished professor of mathematics, Korea Institute for Advanced Study |