Biotech prodigy, 22, becomes Korea's youngest PhD

Ryu Hyo-jung, 22, is the youngest Ph.D. holder in Korea. Yonhap

By Jung Hae-myoung

Ryu Hyo-jung, 22, has become Korea's youngest Ph.D. holder.

Dr. Ryu will receive a doctorate in bioinformatics when she officially graduates from the University of Science and Technology (UST) in Daejeon this month.

She gained her master's at UST when she was 15, in 2011. She went to UST after graduating from elementary school.

“I was an average student but studying consistently was my strength. My mother encouraged me to study independently,” Ryu told Joongang newspaper.

Ryu hopes to develop a new medicine.