CEO Ohjoon Kwon has received the " Korea Best Scientist Award "

On July 13, POSCO CEO Ohjoon Kwon received the 2016 Korea Best Scientist Award from the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. From the left, Nam-ki Hong, 1st Vice-Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning, CEO Kwon and his wife take take a commemorative photograph at the award ceremony. 

POSCO CEO Ohjoon Kwon has been selected as the winner of ``2016 Korea Best Scientist Award,`` by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP). The award ceremony was held at COEX, Seoul, on July 13. 

The Korea Best Scientist Award, which was established by MSIP and the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies in 2003, is given to the scientists and engineers who have contributed to the development of the country and improvement of national welfare through their world level achievements in research and development, and innovation in technology. 

CEO Kwon has received the award being highly credited with his efforts to lead Korea's steel industry to this world-best level by developing high value-added products and commercializing POSCO’s steelmaking technologies at home and abroad. 

He led the development of new steel products (14 cases), new manufacturing technologies (36 cases) and product quality forecasting models (11 cases). In particular, he has made efforts to secure advanced cutting edge technologies such as the development of automotive high strength steel. 

CEO Kwon has further contributed to the development of domestic related industries by providing a customer-oriented total solution that includes assisting with product application technology, financial support and a heartfelt human solution. 

He was highly recognized for his contribution to POSCO gaining a competitive edge in the global market by leading the development of World Premium (WP) products and its own innovative technologies. He received comments that he has strengthened the foundation for overseas exports of its own technologies and developed the core technologies in new business areas, thus contributing to the development of future new growth industries. 

``I’m very pleased to receive the Korea’s best science and engineering award as the one representing the steel industry, the traditional smokestack industry. I will strive to continuously improve the competitiveness of the steel industry POSCO has been focusing on, and based on this, also enhance the competitiveness of materials and energy sectors,`` said CEO Kwon at the award ceremony. 

``In order to revitalize the creative economy and help create more jobs, I'd like to donate the prize money with 100 million won each going to POSTECH and the Korea Engineering Academy, of which I’m the chairman, and my old school, Seoul National University,`` he added. 

Another recipient of this award is Professor Taek-hwan Hyeon of Seoul National University. He has highly contributed to the field of nanomaterials, developing the method for large-scale synthesis of uniform nanoparticles for the first time in the world. In 2008, He received the POSCO TJ Park Science prize from the POSCO TJ Park foundation, for his contribution to the commercialization of nanotechnology.