The foundation selected the two individuals under the age of 40 to recognize their respective contributions to sports excellence and scientific research. Each recipient will receive a 50 million won cash prize alongside a plaque at the official ceremony scheduled for November 25 at the Pony Jeong Hall in the IPARK Tower located in Samseong-dong, Seoul.
The foundation established the Young Leader Prize in 2020 to carry on the innovation and challenge spirit of the late Honorary Chairman Chung Se-young of the HDC Group. Last year's honors went to Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jung Da-jung and APR CEO Kim Byung-hoon.
An Se-young Collects Recognition for Olympic Gold and Sincere Voice
The foundation selected An Se-young for her persistence through injuries and ongoing athletic challenges, alongside her historic international tournament achievements. An secured selection for the national badminton team during her teenage years before capturing the women's singles title at the 2019 French Open as the youngest winner in that category. She subsequently claimed the gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Foundation officials highlighted not only her athletic milestones in raising the global status of South Korean badminton but also her willingness to voice candid perspectives regarding long-standing domestic sports practices.
Kim Do-hyung Advances Nanoscale Catalyst Research in Philadelphia
Kim Do-hyung earned selection for his nanoscale interface research exploring how catalysts interact with liquids, establishing new foundational principles for sustainable energy and chemical engineering processes. His research focuses on identifying reaction sites on solid catalyst surfaces at the atomic level to increase efficiency in energy conversion and chemical manufacturing. His findings have appeared in major academic journals including Nature and Science, and he received a Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering last October.
Awards Ceremony Scheduled for November 25 in Seoul
The 7th Pony Jeong Young Leader Prize presentation ceremony will take place on November 25 at the Pony Jeong Hall inside the IPARK Tower in Samseong-dong, Seoul.
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