Nobel Laureates Visit Seoul, Talk Science in AI Era

Stage at an international science forum held at a Seoul convention hall

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As of September 20, 2026, three Nobel laureates took part in an international academic forum at a convention center in Seoul's Gangnam district, discussing how AI will reshape the future of scientific research. The event drew 16 experts from Korea and abroad and roughly 1,200 audience members, with six Korean students joining the laureates for a direct discussion. It marked the third time this kind of event has been held in Korea.

3Nobel laureates who took part in the forum
~1,200Audience members who attended in person
3rd timeTimes this event has been held in Korea

Key points

  • The forum was co-hosted by the Korean Academy of Science and Technology and the Nobel Foundation's outreach arm in Sweden.
  • Three Nobel laureates in chemistry, physics, and physiology or medicine took the stage.
  • Six Korean high school and university students joined the laureates on stage to discuss what it takes to be a scientist in the AI era.
  • A vice-minister-level official from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Nobel Foundation's secretary general also met separately with the laureates.

An academic exchange event normally held in Sweden each December, timed to the Nobel Prize ceremony, made a special international stop in Seoul this time. Korea has hosted the event twice before, and this third edition once again brought the Korean public face to face with world-renowned scholars.

The lineup of three laureates on stage stood out. They included a Princeton University chemist honored for developing new catalytic reactions, an astrophysicist from the Australian National University recognized for observational proof of the universe's expansion, and a professor at a Massachusetts medical school honored for uncovering the mechanisms that regulate gene expression. Sixteen experts from science, the arts, and philosophy joined them as speakers and panelists.

In Korea right nowIn Korea, attention is centered on the fact that world-class scholars sat down directly with Korean students for a face-to-face conversation. Given that Korea has yet to produce a Nobel laureate in basic science — despite its strength in semiconductors and AI — there's hope that this kind of dialogue could inspire the country's young scientists. The timing, as AI reshapes how experiments and research are conducted, adds to the buzz.

FAQ

Is this event held every year?

The main event, Nobel Week Dialogue, is held annually in Sweden, but this international special edition in Korea is only the third of its kind.

Did the laureates actually talk with Korean students?

Yes. Six Korean high school and university students joined a dedicated session on stage with the Nobel laureates to discuss what it takes to be a scientist in the AI era.

What exactly was the event's theme?

The core themes were how AI is transforming scientific research and paradigms, and what qualities define a good scientist amid that change.

📎 원문 보기 · Sources

연합뉴스 · Sep 20, 2026노벨상 수상자들이 한국 학생에 던진 질문…"AI 시대 과학자란" | 연합뉴스Read the full story & photos at the source →
머니투데이 기사 이미지Nobel Laureates Visit Seoul, Talk Science in AI Era머니투데이 · Sep 20, 2026'노벨프라이즈 다이얼로그 서울' 세 번째 개최…노벨상 수상자 3人 방한 - 머니투데이Read the full story & photos at the source →

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