Professor of Chemistry Tehshik Yoon was just named one of the 2026 Samsung Ho-Am Prize Laureates. He is being honored for his work in the chemistry and life sciences, specifically for developing an innovative methodology for organic synthesis by utilizing transition metals as photocatalysts, enabling complex bond-forming reactions in organic molecules with low-energy visible light.
“Prof. Yoon’s work has redefined the paradigm of organic synthesis, overcoming the limitations of traditional photochemistry and ushering in a new era of green chemistry,” the foundation wrote in the announcement.
The award comes from the Ho-Am Foundation, which is chaired by the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Hwang Sik Kim. In addition to the honor, Yoon will receive 300 million Korean Won (KRW) (approximately $200,000), a diploma and a Ho-Am Prize medal at a ceremony on June 1.
“I’m delighted that my laboratory’s research on photochemistry has received international attention, and that this recognition comes from my parents’ homeland is especially meaningful,” Yoon says. “I am captivated by the ability to conduct reactions of profound societal importance using light as a clean, inexhaustible source of chemical energy. This has been a motivation for research in photochemical synthesis for over a century, and I’m glad to be contributing to research that moves the chemical industries closer to this goal.”
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has a distinguished history with the Samsung Ho-Am Prize, having been home to several past laureates, including Kyoung-Shin Choi (professor of chemistry), Hyuk Yu (emeritus professor of chemistry) and Chang-beom Eom (Raymond R. Holton Chair for Engineering and Theodore H. Geballe Professor).
The Samsung Ho-Am Prize was established in 1990 by Kun-Hee Lee, the late Chairman of Samsung, with the vision of creating a new corporate culture that would carry forward the noble spirit of public service upheld by Ho-Am Lee Byung-chull, the founder of Samsung. The Prize is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to academia, the arts and social development and who have furthered the welfare of humanity through distinguished accomplishments in their respective fields. Including this year’s recipients, a total of 188 laureates have received KRW 37.9 billion in prize money to date.
Other laureates this year and their respective fields are Professor Sung-Jin Oh (University of California, Berkeley) for physics and mathematics, Professor Emeritus Bumman Kim (POSTECH) for engineering, Professor Eva R. Hoffmann (University of Copenhagen) for medicine, Soprano Sumi Jo for the artsr and Dr. Dongchan Oh (Sorokdo National Hospital) for community service.
This year’s laureates were selected through a meticulous evaluation process conducted over four months, with 46 members of the selection committees who are renowned scholars and experts from Korea and abroad, including Nobel Prize laureates as well as 45 overseas academic advisors.