Who is Kim Ung-yong?
Learned something new about this guy from my native country. He scored a 210 on the IQ test.
Kim Ung-Yong (born March 7, 1963) is a Korean former child prodigy. He scored a 210 IQ on the Stanford-Binet test according to the Guinness Book of World Records. He began to learn differential calculus at the age of three. He was able to read and write in Japanese, Korean, German, and English by his fourth birthday. At the age of four, on November 2, 1967, he solved complicated differential and integral calculus problems on Japanese television, demonstrated his proficiency in German, English, Japanese, and Korean, and composed poetry.
Kim was a guest student of physics at Hanyang University from the age of three until he was six.[1]. At the age of seven he was invited to the United States by NASA.[1]. He finished his university studies, eventually getting a Ph.D in physics at Colorado State University [1] before he was 15. In 1974, during his university studies, he began his research work at NASA[1] and continued this work until his return to Korea in 1978.
When he returned to Korea, he decided to switch from physics to civil engineering and eventually received a doctorate in that field. Kim was offered the chance to study at the most prestigious universities in Korea, but instead chose to attend a provincial university.
As of 2007 he also serves as adjunct faculty at Chungbuk National University.
I still wonder why Koreans tend to be smart. Four languages by his fourth birthday? Shit and that makes it no excuse for me not to learn how to read/write Korean. At least I know two languages, ASL and English. :-)
11 Comments, Comment or Ping
secretpersonality
If he’s really smart, he should be famous by inventing something that will alter the world condition or rather, show any kind of talent to entertain people which is part of being intelligent. He reached above 40 years old so why does that name seems to be not familiar to me since I was born and reached teens. Einstein who had an IQ result of 160 is more known to me due to his scientific theories and discoveries so why Kim Ung Yong can’t beat him in popularity aspect. Kim Ung Yong, prove your intelligence by doing something spectacular. He should get embarrassed in being obscured in spite of having high level of intelligence! LOL !
Apr 22nd, 2008
natech
SecretPersonality, maybe he did something that’s not published in English, thus it’s unknown to you. Intelligence has nothing to do with productivity, btw.
Apr 22nd, 2008
Ojas
He was “Invited” to the united stats by NASA at the age of what, 7? There’s a reason they call the special areas of research “Top Secret”.
Sep 19th, 2008
gareth
MKy oldest brother had an IQ of 160 when he was 12 and works in the kitchen of a hotel. Thats a disgrace, but i think he has just given up long ago.
Oct 29th, 2008
LebaneseMan
he thinks he is that smart ..
smartness isnt only by education , but how you think , you escape problems and how you deal with each situation and outcome , rather than a social IQ. perhaps he is just another nerd :P
Feb 22nd, 2009
Kim
Who are you all to try to define quintessential intelligence? There is no true definition of the subject, it’s an infinite substance trying to compressed and measured by finite people. Only the willing can create
conducive ideas for whatever reasons. Wake up, the beans are right in front of you.
Mar 16th, 2009
WILL
To Secret:
Intelligence comes in diffrent forms.
To Gareth: I heard that 75% of MENSA members work as blue collar workers.
To Lebanese: He doesn’t just think it, he knows it. Thats what makes him smart.
Apr 4th, 2009
Well
This guy had a unhappy childhood. He lived a life that wasn’t his while he was a child. Nobody cared about his happiness or his will but only using his abilites.I read an interview from Korean Magazin. While he was working in NASA, he didn’t know why he was doing it and hated his life at that time. He had no social life. So he decided to go back to Korea and live a life he wants to live not the life other people wants him to live.That’s why he refused to enter the prestige university in Korea and chosed the University that was far from people’s attention. He wanted to live a normal life he missed. He had no friends and social life before he got into this univeristy. First thing he did in this University was joing as much club organizations he could. And this helped him to feel part of the community and make him friends. I read from an interview that he is now very happy about his life.
May 4th, 2009
natech
Oh cool, thanks for the comment.
May 4th, 2009
Vinay
To me, if a person is extremely creative, that is a MUCH larger factor in how intelligent they are. For example, my friend scored a 35 on his ACT hung over, but that isn’t what makes him intelligent. It’s the fact that he dropped out of his AP chemistry class because he felt it was “holding him back” (his words) and he took up a organic chemistry class at our local community college. After a month, he had mastered organic chemistry and was more proficient in organic mechanisms than the professor! He eventually was offered a TA job at the advanced organic chemistry class there, but he turned it down. Now the reason this makes him intelligent is because he is very creative. He imagines the shape of molecules as soon as he hears their names. He tells me he can imagine them hitting off of each other in reactions and combining. This is very phenomenal to me because it takes me about 2 minutes to imagine this, and my AP chemistry teacher told me I was the smartest AP chemistry student, other than my friend, that she had ever had. (I received a 100 in her class without trying very much.) But I still do not believe I am intelligent because I am not nearly as creative as my friend. Once I am able to harness this “creativity”, I will truly become intelligent. Secretpersonality is right. What’s the point of being very smart, but not having the creativity to create something worth-while? I believe we should all work to becoming more creative, rather than scoring higher on standardized tests. Then we should use this creativity to further the world: That’s intelligence.
May 24th, 2009
natech
Vinay, you have a very valid point on being creative. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
May 25th, 2009
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