The achievements of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), the nation's top government-funded research institute, are shining even brighter on Science Day.

ETRI announced on the 22nd that a total of 16 researchers have received awards, including the Science and Technology Medal, decoration, and presidential commendation for their research achievements.

ETRI's award-winning technologies this time are very significant in that they are already being applied to the lives of citizens and are leading changes in various fields such as national safety, 3D communication, implementation of a hyper-connected society, and independence in satellite communication.

First, two people were named as recipients of the Order of Science and Technology Merit, ETRI: ETRI Digital Convergence Research Institute Director Seung-Hwan Kim and Digital Convergence Research Institute Air Mobility Research Center Director Chae-Deok Lim.

As a leading researcher in the field of digital healthcare, Director Seung-Hwan Kim has been recognized for his 36 years of dedication to research and commercialization, his contributions to digital healthcare innovation through the implementation of mid- to large-scale national projects, establishment of research institutes, and policy support.

Chief Lim Chae-deok was also highly praised for his contributions to improving national safety and national technological competitiveness through his dedication to SW-based technology research, including the localization of the aviation operating system (OS) and the development of the world's first 5G-based DNA+ drone platform for real-time disaster response.>
The technology won the grand prize as the highest achievement in last year's National Research and Development Excellence 100.

Next, Baek Yong-sun, director of the 3D Communication Research Institute, was selected as the honorary recipient of the Science and Technology Packaging Award.

As co-chairman of the 6G Forum, Director Baek Yong-sun has been active as a leading scholar in the field of optical communications, and has been recognized for his contributions to industrialization, including the development of world-class technologies and the establishment of a compound semiconductor foundry for communications through the implementation of mid- to large-scale national projects for 30 years.

The Presidential Citation was awarded to Youngsoo Cho, Director of the Mobility Navigation Research Lab.

Director Cho Young-soo developed and successfully commercialized 3D precision positioning technology for emergency rescue and key WiFi-based precision navigation technologies, contributing greatly to achieving 1.6 billion won in technology royalties and over 100 cumulative successful rescues.

The Prime Minister's Award went to Woo-Seok Jeong, Director of the Disaster and Safety Intelligence Convergence Research Lab, Jeong-Sik Seong, Principal Researcher of the Autonomous IoT Research Lab, and Yong-Ju Lee, Director of the Visual Intelligence Research Lab.

Director Jeong Woo-seok was recognized for his contribution to the development of ICT-based disaster safety convergence technology, and Senior Researcher Seong Jeong-sik was recognized for his dedication as a leading researcher in the field of next-generation communication technology.

Director Lee Yong-ju is a leading researcher in the field of AI visual intelligence, and contributed to the development of lightweight technology based on generative visual intelligence for the first time in Korea.

A total of 9 people were nominated for the Minister of Science and ICT Award.

In the field of meritorious service in the advancement of science and technology, △Seungik Lee, Senior Researcher (Intelligent Information Standards Laboratory) and △Minjeong Lee, Senior Researcher (Science, Security, and Public ICT Research Center) were honored with awards.

In addition, in the field of the 100 Best Research and Development Achievements, the following were awarded: △Researcher Kwon Seon-hyeong (Media Broadcasting Research Lab), △Researcher Myeong Seung-il (Disaster Safety Intelligence Convergence Research Lab), △Researcher Shin Cheon-sik (Satellite Payload Research Lab), △Researcher Lee Moon-seop (Optical Packaging Research Lab), and △Researcher Cho Yong-seong. The team leader (Hyper-realistic Metaverse Planning Team) received the award.

Yang Seong-il, Director of Technology Transfer, was honored with the Minister's Award for his contribution to the management and expansion of research results, and Hwang Ju-ok, Director of Business Coordination, was honored with the Minister's Award for his achievements in securing research ethics.

ETRI Digital Convergence Research Center Director Kim Seung-hwan said, “It is a great honor to receive this award. We will continue to realize ‘science and technology for the people’ by focusing on people and research for the people.”

ETRI President Seung-chan Bang also said, “This award is not just an individual researcher’s honor, but the fruit of ETRI’s collective efforts that have been silently built up at the forefront of science and technology innovation in Korea. The researchers’ spirit of challenge and sense of responsibility that led to the development of world-first and world-leading technologies were highly regarded for their substantial contribution to the safety of the people and the enhancement of industrial competitiveness.”

ETRI stated that going forward, it will not rest on its laurels but will lead national strategic technologies such as 6G, AI, space satellites, and disaster safety, and will become a vanguard that protects Korea's technological sovereignty amidst the global competition for technological hegemony.

In addition, the institute stated that with this award as an opportunity, it will further accelerate the development of technologies that can actually change the lives of the people and make the people's expectations, support, and belief that "science is the convenience of life" a reality.

In particular, the researcher evaluated that this year's awards, including medals and decorations, had improved both quantitatively and qualitatively compared to last year, and that it was an achievement that received direct recognition from the public.