SNU Engineering Names UCLA Professor Emeritus Hong Taek Hahn and POSTECH Distinguished Professor Moohwan Kim as Recipients of the 2024 Development Contribution Awards


▲ Dean Young-oh Kim of Seoul National University College of Engineering (second from left) with Distinguished Professor Moohwan Kim of POSTECH (second from right)

Seoul National University College of Engineering at announced that UCLA Professor Emeritus Hong Taek Hahn and POSTECH Distinguished Professor Moohwan Kim were selected as recipients of the 2024 SNU Engineering Development Contribution Awards. The award ceremony took place on December 11 at the main auditorium of the SNU Engineer House.

The Development Contribution Award is presented to individuals inside or outside the university who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the College of Engineering. Since its inception in 1989, the award has been granted to 64 recipients over 35 ceremonies. This year, Professor Ho-Young Kim from the Department of Mechanical Engineering accepted the award on behalf of Professor Emeritus Hong-Taek Hahn, who could not attend the event.

Professor Emeritus Hong Taek Hahn, who graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at SNU in February 1964, served as a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is a globally renowned scholar in the field of composite materials, having held positions such as Raytheon Chair Professor, editor-in-chief of the prestigious Journal of Composite Materials, and president of the American Society for Composites. Professor Han also established the Hanbaek Scholarship Fund ($1 million) for SNU students, initiated a Korea-U.S. student scholarship program through the SNU Alumni Association of America (SNUAA), and played a pivotal role in creating a network to support Korean startups entering the U.S. market, contributing significantly to the development of SNU Engineering.

Distinguished Professor Moohwan Kim of POSTECH, the other award recipient, began his studies in Nuclear Engineering at SNU in 1976, earning his bachelor's degree in 1980, his master's degree in 1982, and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Over 37 years, he has devoted himself to education and research at POSTECH, significantly advancing nuclear energy development and safety in Korea. He also contributed to the establishment of the Nuclear Research Institute for Future Technology and Policy (NIFTEP) under SNU Engineering. As president of the Department of Nuclear Engineering alumni association, he secured funding commitments totaling KRW 200 million for the reconstruction of Building 32, where the department is located, demonstrating his dedication to the advancement of both the department and the College of Engineering.

Dean Young-oh Kim of the College of Engineering said in his congratulatory remarks, “I extend my heartfelt congratulations and respect to this year’s recipients of the Development Contribution Awards, who have greatly contributed to the growth of SNU Engineering and served as exemplary figures for younger generations. I hope their contributions and dedication will serve as a catalyst for further advancements at SNU Engineering, and I ask for their continued guidance and inspiration for our future leaders.”