Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
Hanwha Science Challenge explores ideas for sustainable future
Seongju Girl's High School students Kim Joo-eun, left, and Noh Yoon-ah, right, pose with Hanwha Advanced Materials CEO Kim In-hwan after winning the top prize at the 2025 Hanwha Science Challenge in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, Friday. Courtesy of Hanwha Group
By Nam Hyun-woo
Seongju Girl’s High School team takes top prize at idea contest
A team from Seongju Girl’s High School won the top prize at the 2025 Hanwha Science Challenge with a trap against pine wood nematode, an idea that will help address pine wilt disease, which threatens Korea’s forest ecosystem.
According to Hanwha Group on Sunday, the team comprised of Kim Joo-eun and Noh Yoon-ah claimed a 40 million won ($28,745) prize for the idea of a high-efficiency trap that addresses the limitations of conventional pine wilt nematode traps.
The team created a smart pest-capturing device that automatically adjusts the opening angle of the trap based on real-time weather data such as temperature, humidity and rainfall. It boosted lure efficiency in line with pest activity patterns while reducing resource waste, offering a smarter approach to forest pest control.
“We didn’t expect the top prize because other competitors presented high-quality projects,” the team said. “We thank Hanwha Group for providing support that enabled us to conduct quality research, and will continue to do our best to come up with ideas that can help create a sustainable future.”
Participants of the 2025 Hanwha Science Challenge pose at Hanwha General Insurance's training institute in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, Friday. Courtesy of Hanwha Group
The Hanwha Science Challenge marks its 14th edition this year, after Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn introduced the contest.
While launching the contest, Kim said “Intel has produced seven Nobel Prize winners through its science competition” and “Hanwha should also nurture future Korean Nobel laureates through the nation’s largest science competition.” So far, more than 18,000 high school students have participated, proposing fresh scientific ideas.
The finals and award ceremony of this year’s contest took place at Hanwha General Insurance’s training institute in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province from Wednesday to Friday, under the theme, “Saving the Earth: Creative Ideas for a Sustainable Tomorrow.”
This year, 1,516 students in 758 teams participated the contest, up about 30 percent from last year. The participants have been exploring ideas since March, and the finals featured idea discussions and presentations from 104 teams.
Along with the Seongju Girl’s High School team, two runners-up and two third-place winners each claimed 20 million won and 10 million won in prize money. The five teams will also be offered overseas exploration programs, including visits to prestigious scientific institutions, renowned engineering universities and Hanwha Group’s global business sites.
“We hope the past six months with the Hanwha Science Challenge will be one of the brightest memories for all participants,” said Hanwha Advanced Materials CEO Kim In-hwan, who presented the awards. “We hope the experience and insights gained from the competition will serve as a foundation for them to grow into world-class scientists who contribute to saving the planet and improving human life and happiness.”