The Ho-Am Foundation (President Kim Hwang-sik Lee (President)) announced on the 5th that starting next year, the prize money awarded to Samsung Ho-Am Prize recipients will be significantly increased from the current 3 billion won to 500 million won. This move aims to elevate the prize amount in line with the status of the Samsung Ho-Am Prize, recognized as Korea's most prestigious award.
The increased prize money will take effect starting from the 37th ceremony in 2027, marking the 40th anniversary of the passing of Lee Byung-chul, founder of Samsung and father of the late Chairman Lee Byung-chul. The total prize pool across six categories will expand from 1.8 billion won to 3 billion won.
The Samsung Ho-Am Prize has established its prestige and credibility by recognizing recipients who have gone on to win globally renowned awards such as the Nobel Prize and the Fields Medal. A representative example is Professor Heo Jun-woo of Princeton University, who received the Samsung Ho-Am Prize in Science (Physics & Mathematics Division) in 2021 for solving long-standing challenges in modern mathematics, and was awarded the Fields Medal — often called the "Nobel Prize of Mathematics" — the following year as the first Korean recipient. Additionally, author Han Kang won the Samsung Ho-Am Prize in Arts in May 2024 and subsequently became the first Korean to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in October of the same year.
A Samsung official stated, "This increase in prize money positions the Samsung Ho-Am Prize as a platform that not only sets the highest domestic standard but also allows it to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with international-level awards in terms of recipient caliber and recognition." The official added, "We expect this initiative to motivate Korean scientists and engineers to pursue more challenging research and to strengthen societal interest and support for pure arts and social service fields."
Kim Hwang-sik, President of the Ho-Am Foundation Lee (President), expressed hope that "more outstanding individuals who have quietly dedicated themselves to research and creative activities while embodying noble spirit of public service will be widely recognized in our society."
The Samsung Ho-Am Prize was established in 1990 by the late Lee Kun-hee Seon Dae (Chairman) to honor his father, founder Lee Byung-chul's philosophy of prioritizing talent and contributing to social welfare. The award categories include: △Science Award (Physics & Mathematics Division), △Science Award (Chemistry & Life Sciences Division), △Engineering Award, △Medicine Award, △Arts Award, and △Social Service Award — totaling six categories.
Chairman Lee Jae-yong of Samsung Electronics, who has continued to develop the Ho-Am Prize by upholding the management philosophy of previous generations, has attended the Samsung Ho-Am Prize Ceremony for five consecutive years since assuming the chairmanship in 2022. Lee (Chairman) emphasized the need to expand support for basic science and, in 2021, expanded the Science Award from a single category to two divisions: Physics & Mathematics and Chemistry & Life Sciences.
Meanwhile, the Ho-Am Foundation will accept nominations for the 37th Samsung Ho-Am Prize until the end of October this year. Detailed information on nomination procedures is available on the Ho-Am Foundation's official website. After undergoing multi-stage expert reviews domestically and internationally, Seon Jeong-doe-neun (수상) will announce the winners in April 2027, with the award ceremony scheduled for June of the same year.
Since its inaugural ceremony in 1991, the Ho-Am Foundation has recognized a total of 188 Myeong Ui (수상) recipients up to the 36th ceremony this year, having awarded cumulative prize money totaling 37.9 billion won.
in INDUSTRY
