Korea Foundation for Women i n Science, Engineering and Technology

• WISET established and awarded the first WISET Distinguished Service Award at the 2025 Korea Women in Science & Technology Awards (Dec 1).

• Awards given to individuals who contributed to the sustainable ecosystem through policy advice, regional talent development, and corporate cooperation.

The Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET, Chairperson Ae-ri Moon) announced that eight individuals from academia, industry, and research were honored with the newly established WISET Distinguished Service Award at the 2025 Korea Women in Science & Technology Awards, held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 1, at the Korea Science and Technology Center. The award ceremony followed the presentation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Awards.

This year marks the first introduction of the Distinguished Service Award, created to shine a spotlight on the often unseen yet significant contributions made by various stakeholders who have helped build and advance the ecosystem supporting women in science and technology.

Photo: Winners of the WISET Distinguished Service Award posing for a commemorative photo.

Eight Award Recipients (in alphabetical order):

• Yooncheol Kang (Professor, Ewha Womans University)

• Min-Young Shon (Professor, Pukyong National University)

• SooJin Seok (CEO, Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea)

• Ki-Jeong Lee (President, Hanyang University)

• Seok-Mok Jung (Executive Director, Multicampus)

• Jin Taek Chung (Professor, Korea University)

• Young Shin Han (Professor, Inha University)

• Eun Mi Han (Professor, Chonnam National University)

These individuals have contributed to policy proposals and infrastructure expansion to broaden the base of female talent. They have also worked hard to ensure career continuity for women scientists by linking them with regional industries. Furthermore, they were recognized for their diverse contributions to creating the ecosystem. For example, they provided free mentoring and online education platforms to expand the pool of female talent in high-tech industries.

WISET President Aree Moon stated, "An environment where women in science and technology can fully unleash their potential is not possible through individual effort alone. It requires the cooperation of all members of industry, academia, and research." She added, "Through this award, we hope the hard work of those who have dedicated themselves behind the scenes will be widely known. I hope this serves as an opportunity to create a better science and technology community."