- recognized for his groundbreaking research in the field of ship hydrodynamics as the first recipient from a non-Western country

▲ Professor Yong-Hwan Kim

Professor Yong-Hwan Kim of Seoul National University (SNU)'s Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Kenneth Davidson Medal, awarded by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME). This award recognizes his outstanding contributions to the field of ship hydrodynamics.

Named after the late Professor Kenneth Davidson, a pioneer in vehicle dynamics research, the Kenneth Davidson Medal has been awarded since 1959 to scholars who have achieved exceptional accomplishments in ship research. SNAME selects medal recipients annually or biennially across six fields related to naval, maritime, and oceanic industries. However, the Davidson Medal is awarded only every two years to one researcher worldwide for their notable contributions to ship research. What makes this medal unique is that it is open to candidates from any field of ship research, regardless of whether they are members of SNAME. Thus, recipients are selected from among the most distinguished naval engineers worldwide. The 2024 medal ceremony took place on October 15th in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.

Particularly noteworthy is that Professor Kim is the first Korean and the first from a non-Western country to receive the Davidson Medal. For over 70 years, all recipients of this medal have been from the U.S. or Europe. Although some Asian-American scholars have been honored, they conducted their research within the U.S. Therefore, Professor Kim's achievement highlights his exceptional academic contributions and is seen as a significant moment in the global academic community.

An SNU College of Engineering official remarked, “While Korea’s shipbuilding industry is widely recognized as one of the best in the world, the academic community has not always had the same global standing. Professor Kim's recognition marks a significant milestone for Korea’s naval engineering academic field.”

Professor Kim obtained his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) after completing his studies in naval architecture at SNU. Since 2004, he has led cutting-edge research in ship and ocean hydrodynamics at SNU, gaining international recognition. Last year, he was also named the 2023–2024 Weinblum Memorial Lecturer by the German Weinblum Foundation, one of the highest honors in the field of ship hydrodynamics. The combination of the Weinblum Lectureship and the Davidson Medal reaffirms the global impact of his research.

In addition to his academic accolades, Professor Kim has held various prestigious positions, including guest fellowships at the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK, Southampton University, Osaka University, and MIT. He continues to play key roles in several international academic conferences and journals. Last month, the Lloyd’s Register Foundation in the UK announced a grant of approximately 7 billion KRW to support Professor Kim’s team in their research on safety technologies for future ships.

[Contact Information]
Jeon Yeong-chae, Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Seoul National University
Tel: +82-2-880-2599
Email: korjparc@snu.ac.kr