The NAEK Award () is a lifetime achievement award presented by the National Academy of Engineering of Korea with a cash prize of KRW 400 million from 2025. The NAEK Young Engineer Award () is presented in conjunction with the NAEK Award and is given to two individuals under the age of 50; one recipient is from industry and the other is from academia. The second award comes with KRW 100 million.
NAEK Award laureates Year Laureate Affiliation Citation1997Choi Hyeong-seop (최형섭)Federation of Science and Technology SocietiesContributed to the establishment of academic theories, including theory of secondary ferriticism and a new Zr smelting method; and the establishment of Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Daedeok Research Complex, and the Korea Science Foundation.Kim Seon-hong (김선홍)KiaContributed greatly to the development of the automobile industry through the development of new products, new technologies, and export of industrial products.1998 (이만영)Hanyang UniversityContributed to the development of the electronics and information industries by writing academic books; disseminating cryptography technology; and developing electronic telephone exchanges, guided missiles, and Korea's first analog electronic calculator.Oh Myeong (오명)The Dong-A IlboWas the organizing committee chairman of Expo '93, and while serving as minister, contributed to the communication revolution and the establishment of an information society through the establishment of various policies and the promotion of projects.1999 (이부섭)Dongjin Chemical IndustryEstablished Korea's first foaming agent manufacturer, securing a 35% share of the global organic foaming agent market, and contributing to increased exports and the development of domestic precision chemicals through the development of semiconductor encapsulants and semiconductor mold waxes.2000Park Song-bae (박송배)KAISTContributed significantly to the development of industry-academia cooperation by supporting groundbreaking technological advancements in circuit and system design and ultrasound imaging, and the establishment of six venture companies, including Medison Co., Ltd.2001Kim Sang-joo (김상주)Seoul National UniversityIntroduced advanced subjects for the first time in Korea, establishing a foundation for a graduate-focused university, and making innovative contributions to the research and development of low-alloy structural and functional steel materials.2002 (서정욱)World Internet Youth FederationCompleted the TDX project, a digital switchboard development project, participated in the development of the world's first CDMA mobile phone, and made a decisive contribution to its commercialization success.2003Lee Jae-seong (이재성)Seoul National UniversityA pioneer of chemical engineering education in Korea, he founded and served as president of the . He introduced the concept of "industry-academia cooperation" to Korea, and contributed significantly to the advancement of Korean engineering education.2004 (여종기)LG Chem Technology Research CenterContributed to the development of the domestic chemical industry through numerous research achievements, including engineering plastics.2005Lee Jae-young (이재영)KAISTContributed to a study on hydrogen embrittlement of steel using hydrogen thermal analysis2006Park Seung-deok (박승덕)As the director of the Research and Development Coordination Office of the Ministry of Science and ICT, he laid the foundation for the domestic semiconductor industry by planning and supporting the 4MD RAM prototype development project. He contributed significantly to improving the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science.2007Lee Jong-hoon (이종훈)Korea Electric Power CorporationAchieving self-reliance in nuclear power plant construction technology, establishing a bridgehead for overseas expansion in the electric power sector, selected as one of the "60 Outstanding Engineers who Built Korea," and on behalf of KEPCO, he received the Edison Award (Edison Electric Institute) which was the first time the award was bestowed in Asia.2008 (정석규)Pioneered the domestic rubber industry.Developing and supplying functional rubber parts for key industries including electronics and automobiles.Contributed to a culture of giving (KRW 20 billion in scholarships and donations).2009 (이현순)Hyundai Motor CompanyDevelopment of the Alpha Engine, Korea's first independent model.Development of high-performance engines, including the Theta World Engine and export of engine design technology.Contribution to improving the design and development capabilities of domestic small and medium-sized enterprises.Establishment of the world's first automotive environmental technology research center.2010Go Hong-sik (고홍식)Samsung Total Senior AdvisorAfter the foreign exchange crisis, Samsung General Chemicals was revived from bankruptcy and developed into a world-class company. Through field-oriented TPM and Six Sigma activities, a zero-accident, world-class energy-efficient petrochemical plant was realized. By integrating chemical industry-related organizations and launching the Korea Federation of Chemical Industries, a firm position in the global chemical industry was established, contributing to the sustainable development and internationalization of the Korean chemical industry.2011Oh Won-cheol (오원철)Former Senior Economic Affairs Secretary to the PresidentIn the 1970s, he restructured the industrial structure to focus on heavy and chemical industries, leading Korea's industrialization and rapid growth.To overcome the crisis following the 1973 oil crisis, he entered the Middle Eastern construction market and fostered the plant engineering industry.He contributed to the reform of the science and technology education system to train technicians, technicians, engineers, and scientists, the establishment of various research institutes, and the construction of the Daedeok Research Complex.2012Kang Chang-oh (강창오)POSTECHDevelopment of the next-generation innovative steelmaking process, FINEX process technology. Development of the next-generation innovative hot-rolled steel plate manufacturing process.2013Kim Jong-hoon (김종훈)In the mid-1990s, he introduced an advanced construction management technique to Korea.As the first generation of high-rise building experts in Korea, he contributed to the practical application of high-rise construction technology by carrying out more than 70% of high-rise building projects in Korea and training approximately 200 experts. He established the Construction Industry Vision Forum to seek innovation in the construction industry. And as the chairman of the Construction Industry Advancement Committee, he established 'Construction Advancement 2020,' the future vision for Korean construction.2014Yoon Bu-geun (윤부근)Samsung ElectronicsPlayed a pivotal role in making Samsung the top seller of TVs globally.Continued to develop display products, including Full HD LED TV, 3D TV, and SMART TV. Expanding domestic and international design research centers and continuing design innovation.2015Byun Dae-gyu (변대규)Founded the venture company Humax in 1989 and over 21 years, grew it have annual sales of KRW 1 trillion, which resulted in over KRW 800 billion in foreign currency annually. Developed the first set-top box for digital satellite broadcasting reception in Asia and third globally. Received the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, selected as one of the "60 Outstanding Engineers who Built Korea" and as a next generation leader in Asia.2016Kim Yun-geun (김윤근)By applying university laborator research results electrolytic copper foil to industry, he contributed to Korea's leap forward as an electronics powerhouse. He developed the world's thinnest and highest-performing electrolytic copper foil for lithium-ion secondary batteries.He domestically produced the "aluminum alloy bobbin," a synthetic fiber spool that had been entirely dependent on imports.2017 (박진수)LG ChemContributed to Korea's development and commercialization of lithium-ion secondary batteries. Successfully developed and commercialized automotive lithium-ion secondary batteries for the first time in Korea, achieving global leadership in the mid- to large-sized secondary battery market. Laying the foundation for a "small nation on the island, technological powerhouse" through increased R&D investment. Enhanced international competitiveness through fostering an autonomous and creative R&D culture.2018 (김기남)Samsung ElectronicsSubstantial improvements to semiconductor technology.Developed the world's first 20nm and 10nm class DRAM products, and is leading the development of new application design technology that compensates for low-capacity capacitors and new technologies for high-speed, low-power devices.2019Lee Sang-yup (이상엽)KAISTBy pioneering systems metabolic engineering and developing numerous core technologies and world-first bioprocesses, he have significantly contributed to the advancement of the global biochemical industry, thereby elevating Korea's status globally.Using systems metabolic engineering, he have developed and transferred to industry numerous microorganisms and production processes for gasoline, engineering plastic raw materials, spider silk proteins stronger than steel, biodegradable and biocompatible non-natural plastics, and aromatic polyesters, all for the first time.2020 (조성진)LG ElectronicsImprovements in home appliance industry technologies, including domestic production of washing machines (1987), development of the first washing machine Direct Drive System (1998), the first dual steam drum washing machine (2005), and turbo wash (2013).Increased efficiency in R&D and production methods through modular design of home appliances.Leading the market by launching new brands, including LG Signature and Signature Kitchen Suite.Focusing on strengthening future capabilities through preemptive investment in robots, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and big data, and the formation of dedicated organizations such as the Robot Business Center.2021Seo Jung-jin (서정진)CelltrionThe world's first antibody biosimilar, Remsima, has received regulatory approval from the US (FDA) and Europe (EMA). Development and production of second-generation antibody biosimilar.Development of Remsima SC, the first subcutaneous infliximab formulation. Related patent applications were filed in approximately 130 countries.2022Hyeon Taeghwan (현택환)Seoul National UniversityThe first temperature-assisted method for mass-synthesizing uniform nanoparticles without size separation was developed and is now a standard nanoparticle synthesis method. Development of a number of low-cost, high-efficiency, eco-friendly catalysts necessary for innovation in energy storage and conversion processes. Suggestion of potential applications of nanomaterials as MRI contrast agents and therapeutic antioxidants.2023 (한종희)Samsung ElectronicsDevelopment of core technologies for B2C and B2B display products and leading in image technology. Contributed to the development of the domestic display industry through industry-academic cooperation with domestic universities, including technologies related to MicroLED, image quality, and QLED materials.2024Park Nam-Gyu (박남규)Sungkyunkwan UniversityDevelopment of a stable and highly efficient solid-state perovskite solar cell using a light-absorbing material with a perovskite structure; a significant development to perovskite photovoltaics and transformation of the domestic solar cell industry.2025Cha Gi-cheol (차기철)InBodyDevelopment of 'Inbody', a body composition analyzer with simultaneous direct measurement and multi-frequency measurement technology for each body part. Establishment of 13 local corporations around the world, export of products and services to 110 countries, and significant contribution the exports market.
NAEK Young Engineer Award laureates