Hanwha Science Challenge 2026 Concludes with Record Participation of 1,088 Teams

A Record 1,088 Teams from 214 Schools Nationwide Participate

Entries Up 43% from Last Year

Grand Prize Awarded for Proposing a Power-Free Wildfire Prevention System Inspired by Balsam Seed Mechanism

The finals and awards ceremony of the 15th Hanwha Science Challenge 2026, hosted by Hanwha Group, were held over three days from August 12 to August 14.

The Hanwha Science Challenge is a science competition for high school students created by Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn, with the vision of fostering young Korean Nobel laureates in science.

Participants of the 15th Hanwha Science Challenge 2026 are taking a group photo. Hanwha Systems

This year, a record 1,088 teams from 214 schools nationwide participated in the event, representing an increase of over 43% compared to the previous year.

This competition, supported by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, and the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, took place at Hanwha General Insurance Life Campus in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do.

The Grand Prize went to the team "Ajas" (Kim Sangyul and Heo Jinwoo from Bucheon High School, with supervising teacher Choi Jaewon) for their research on “Turning Adversity into Opportunity: A Passive Wildfire Response and Restoration System Based on Balsam Seed Snap Buckling.” The Ajas team was highly praised for proposing an eco-friendly disaster prevention and restoration system that mimics the snap-buckling structure by which balsam seeds are ejected by elasticity; it detects wildfire heat, disperses fire extinguishing agents, and restores debris back into fertilizer.

The two Gold Prizes were awarded to "Mozaban the Brave" (Kang Dayul and Lee Kangyeon from Gyeonggi Buk Science High School, with supervising teacher Lee Dahyeon) and to "They Are Trouble But the Strongest" (Hwang Ligeon from Daejeon Daeshin High School, Jeon Changwoo from Daejeon Daeseong High School, with supervising teacher Bae Sunghyun). The Silver Prizes went to "PeeHD" (Kim Jieun and Lee Doeon from North London Collegiate School Jeju, with supervising teacher Derek Patenaude) and "Crossing Mountains and Rivers" (Park Doyul from Gwangju Science High School, Park Sunyul from Daegu Science High School, with supervising teacher Lee Sujin).

The total prize money for this competition was 200 million won, which is the highest level in Korea. The Grand Prize team received 40 million won, each of the two Gold Prize teams received 20 million won, and each of the two Silver Prize teams received 10 million won.

The five teams (10 members) that won the Grand, Gold, and Silver Prizes will be offered an overseas study tour of renowned scientific institutions and engineering universities. In addition, all finalist teams will receive an exemption from the application screening process when applying for positions at Hanwha Group in the future.

Yoon Jeyong, chairman of the organizing committee and professor at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Seoul National University, said at the awards ceremony, "With the largest number of participants ever, this year's competition showcased the scientific solutions and imagination of youth regarding pressing issues such as climate change and environmental crises. I’m delighted that the Hanwha Science Challenge is becoming more than just a contest, but rather a meaningful platform for the growth of future contenders for the Nobel Prize."

Lee Jaekyu, CEO of Hanwha Energy, stated, "I hope the time spent with the Hanwha Science Challenge has helped broaden the students' intellectual horizons and foster new perspectives for viewing the world. Hanwha Group will always support the bold dreams and ambitions of youth as they take on the global stage beyond Korea."

Over the past 15 years, more than 9,300 teams and 18,000 high school students have participated in the Hanwha Science Challenge, and most past winners have gone on to further their studies at domestic and international universities and continue their research activities as future scientists.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.