OREANDA-NEWS. April 10, 2013. The POSCO TJ Park Foundation held the `2013 TJ Park Prize` award ceremony on March 27th at the POSCO Center. The 7th annual award winners were KAIST Life Science Chair Professor Kim Eunjun who received the TJ Park Science Prize, Founding Principal Yoon Byeonghun of Yangeob High School who received the TJ Park Education Prize, and CEO Seo Yeongnam of Mindlele Noodle House who received the TJ Park Community Development and Philanthropy Prize. Each received a plaque and an award of 200 million KRW.

Award winners were selected among candidates recommended by major institutions and specialists both domestically and abroad, reviewed over a five month period by the recommendation committee and selection committee consisting of specialists in each field, consultation evaluations of overseas scholars, and on-site review.

CEO Chung Joonyang (POSCO TJ Park Foundation Chairman) said, ``I hope that the beauty of science, education, and volunteering that the three awardees have shown us spreads like the seeds of a dandelion into society and is reborn as an echo of love and hope throughout. And by them will always be the `loved company` POSCO.``

Prime Minister Jeong Hongwon in his congratulatory address said, ``POSCO`s unsparing investment in science, education, and volunteering serves a great role in receiving the envy of the world on Korea`s development. I would like to offer even more cheers so that the POSCO TJ Park Foundation can continue to find these great people throughout our society and encourage them further.``

Professor Kim Eunjun who won the TJ Park Science Prize is a leading expert in brain sciences, investigated the principle of synapse formation of cerebral nerves which is one of academia`s greatest interests, and is leading research on the relation between synapse proteins and cerebral nerve diseases. He discovered the cause of ADHD in 2011 through synapse research, and in 2012 investigated the cause of autism and developed a new method of treatment which reduced medicinal side effects.

Founding Principal Yoon Byeonghun who won the TJ Park Education Prize is a true educator who practices differentiated character education of `Love and Care, Communication and Patience, Autonomy and Responsibility` rather than one-way forced teaching to students who are having difficulty studying due to maladjustment to schools and are falling behind in their studies. In Yangeob High School, which was established as an alternative school, rather than taking away cigarettes from students who smoked, established a smoking area and waited for the students to realize themselves. As a result, the students eliminated the smoking area and created a school with no smoking or violence after seven years.

CEO Seo Yeongnam who won the TJ Park Community Development and Philanthropy Prize founded Mindlele Noodle House in 2003 with 3 million KRW, and has been operating it as a free soup kitchen offering free meals to the homeless. He also established a virtuous cycle where they can rest at the Mindlele Hope Support Center and listen to humanities lectures, and establish the will to become independent. In addition to services for the homeless, a study room and cafeteria for children is also in operation, and recently, a project to support children in the Payatas region of the Philippines has also been carried out.

At the award ceremony, 220 people attended including Prime Minister Jeong Hongwon, Superintendant of Education of Seoul Mun Yongrin, Korea Forum for Progress Special Committee Chairperson Lee Baeyong, Supreme Court Head of the Case Assessment Committee Lee Gisu, Seoul National University Chancellor Oh Yeoncheon, KAIST Chancellor Kang Seongmo, POSTECH Chancellor Kim Yongmin, Ewha Women`s University Chancellor Kim Seonuk, Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies Chancellor Park Cheol, Korean Academy of Science and Technology President Park Seonghyeon, and former TJ Park Prize award winners.

The POSCO TJ Park Foundation originated from the `Steelmaking Scholarship` founded by Honorary Chairman Cheongam Park Taejoon in 1971, with 60 million KRW in funds. The POSCO TJ Park Prize was established in 2006 to honor and spread POSCO`s founding principles of respect for creativity, focus on talent, and a volunteer mind to form a mature social environment. The first annual prize award ceremony was held in March of 2007.