South Korea sweeps all gold medals at International Physics Olympiad

South Korea's young science talents have claimed the top spot on the international stage, outperforming students from the world's leading science nations.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity announced Tuesday that all five members of the South Korean delegation won gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad, held in Bucaramanga, Colombia.

The competition drew 381 students from 91 countries. The five Korean delegates — Kim Mu-yeon, Oh Ju-ha, Lee Gwon-heon, Lee Seung-jun and Jeong Min-kwon, all third-year students at Seoul Science High School — each took home a gold medal. Oh particularly distinguished herself by finishing first overall among all participants.

The olympiad consisted of a five-hour theoretical exam and a five-hour experimental exam. The theoretical portion featured three problems worth 30 points and the experimental portion one problem worth 20 points, for a total of 50 points. This year's theoretical exam covered the principles of low-temperature cooling using magnetic materials, the focusing of light and the principles of solar cookers, and mechanics problems involving hydraulics, electron-positron pairs and ozone decomposition. The experimental exam tested students on measuring vapor pressure and thermal conductivity. Together, the exams assessed both scientific analytical ability and hands-on experimental skills.

Shin Yong-il, chair of the Korean Physics Olympiad Committee of the Korean Physical Society, who led the delegation, said he was "very pleased that all members of the Korean delegation achieved the outstanding result of winning gold medals." He added, "I sincerely hope they will continue to nurture their dreams and capabilities in science and grow into the leaders who will shape the future."

Meanwhile, the Korean delegation is set to compete in a series of international science olympiads in chemistry, biology and mathematics following the physics competition.