Graduate student Jaewon Yoo from the Department of Mathematics received the Grand Prize in the short story category at the “2026 POSTECH SF AWARD,” held on February 27, 2026, in the Main Building Conference Hall at POSTECH.

 The POSTECH SF Award is the only science fiction competition in Korea dedicated to undergraduate and graduate students in science and engineering. The event aims to discover works that envision the future through deep reflection on science, technology, and society combined with creative imagination. It has established itself as an important gateway for STEM students who aspire to create science fiction.

 Yoo has long pursued creative writing alongside mathematical research, exploring the similarities between SF and mathematics—both of which develop imagination within structured rules. Through years of sustained effort and continued challenges, this award marks a meaningful step toward Yoo’s aspiration to become a “researcher who writes science fiction.”

 The ceremony began with opening remarks, followed by a progress report by Professor Jinhee Kim (Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, POSTECH) and a congratulatory address by POSTECH President Seong Keun Kim. The program continued with the presentation of awards and speeches by the recipients, as well as comments from the judging panel and congratulatory remarks from invited guests. In the short story category, students from Dong-A University, KAIST, and Jeonbuk National University received Excellence Awards, while Yoo was honored with the Grand Prize.

 The Institute for Communication and Public Opinion at POSTECH, the organizer of the award, stated that it will continue to support STEM students in developing science fiction works that combine scientific expertise with humanistic creativity.