South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT held the 12th "Talks with Future Scientists" on Feb. 5 at the Cheong Wa Dae state guest house, encouraging new 2025 Presidential Science Scholarship recipients and international science Olympiad winners.

The event invites Presidential Science Scholarship recipients and international science Olympiad winners to celebrate their achievements and share their hopes and ambitions as future scientists. This year, about 270 people attended, including 205 new scholarship recipients and 35 Olympiad awardees.

The ministry presented scholarship certificates, medals and commemorative plaques to a total of 240 people, including scholarship recipients and Olympiad winners. The event proceeded with the awarding of certificates followed by talks with the future scientists.

The youngest future scientist at the event was Yoon Hye-won (윤혜원), a student at Sookmyung Girls' Middle School, who was selected for South Korea's team for the International Mathematical Olympiad at middle school age. Yoon, who was 14 at the time of the competition, won both a gold medal and the Mirzakhani Prize at the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad.

The ministry said the event was held as part of the government policy task of "building a basic research ecosystem and becoming a nation strong in science and technology talent."

Deputy Prime Minister and Science and ICT Minister Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈) said, "Scientists' challenges change the future of humanity beyond South Korea," adding, "The government will create an environment in which young scientists can take on challenges without fear."