The Ho-Am Foundation announced the five 2012 Ho-Am Prize recipients who will be given support funds worth a total of 1.5 billion won ($1.33 million) on Tuesday.

The foundation said the awards were given to Kim Min-hyong in the field of science, Hyeon Taeg-hwan in engineering, Jung Jae-ung in medicine, Chin Un-suk in arts and Lee Dong-han in community service.

“The recipients were selected from candidates recommended by leading organizations and experts in each professional field through a strict four-month evaluation by domestic and foreign scholars and experts, advisory opinions and on-the-spot surveys,” it said in a statement. “The finalists were then confirmed as the prize recipients through a final deliberation by the Ho-Am Prize Committee.”

Kim is among the most recognized mathematicians in arithmetic geometry and Hyeon is a well-known expert in the nanomaterials research and development field, officials said. Jung, a leader in molecular biology, has accomplished medical research breakthroughs on how human viral pathogens replicate in their hosts and cause disease.

Chin is a composer who has been leading new trends in modern music and Lee is the chairman of Social Welfare Corp. Choon Kang is famous for his contribution in the advancement of rights and welfare for the disabled, they added.

By Cho Ji-hyun (sharon@heraldcorp.com)