Ottogi Ham Tae-ho Academic Award Goes to Gachon University Professor Lee Haejeong: "Established Framework for Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey"

Co-hosted with the Korean Nutrition Society
Since 2009, the award has honored researchers contributing to the development of the food industry.

The Ottogi Ham Tae-ho Foundation announced on October 26 that it had held the 34th Ottogi Ham Tae-ho Academic Award ceremony jointly with the Korean Nutrition Society and selected Professor Lee Haejeong of Gachon University as this year's recipient.

Ham Youngjun, chairman of the Ottogi Ham Taeho Foundation (left), poses for a commemorative photo with Lee Haejung, a professor at Gachon University and this year's recipient of the Ottogi Ham Taeho Academic Award. Provided by Ottogi.

Professor Lee was recognized for establishing the framework for the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, laying the foundation for research to promote health tailored to the public, and leading efforts to enhance the nutrition survey database of the Korea Genome and Epidemiology Study, thereby helping build the infrastructure for national nutrition research. She also identified the effects and mechanisms of action of traditional foods and functional ingredients through human clinical trials, expanding their potential academic and industrial applications. In addition, she contributed to leading Korean precision nutrition research projects based on artificial intelligence (AI) and gut microbiota. A full member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, Professor Lee has an outstanding record that includes 185 SCI(E)-indexed papers, 16 domestic and international patents, and six technology transfers.

Foundation Chairman Ham Youngjun, who is also chairman of Ottogi, presented Professor Lee with a plaque and KRW 30 million in prize money. Established in 1996, the Ottogi Ham Tae-ho Foundation established the Ottogi Ham Tae-ho Academic Award in 2009. Since then, in partnership with the Korean Society of Food Science and Technology and the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition, it has recognized researchers each year for their contributions to the development of the food industry and improvements in dietary habits. This year, the Korean Nutrition Society joined the award, expanding its reach to the three major academic societies in the food and nutrition fields. Including this year's recipient, a total of 34 people have received the Ottogi Ham Tae-ho Academic Award.

Alongside the award ceremony, the foundation has continued its research project funding program. Launched in 2013 with KRW 225 million in total funding for three researchers, the program has provided KRW 14.1 billion in research funding to a total of 92 researchers through this year.

A representative of the Ottogi Ham Tae-ho Foundation said, "We are carrying out academic promotion programs to broaden the base of the food and nutrition fields and encourage academic exchange and research activities. We will continue to provide support in various ways to advance domestic food and nutrition research and strengthen its competitiveness."

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