Kim Ung-yong

Kim Ung-Yong was born on March 8, 1962, in Seoul, South Korea.[1] His father, Kim Soo-Sun, was a physics professor at Hanyang University, and his mother, Yoo Myung-Hyun, was a teacher at Seoul National University.[5] By the time he was a year old, Kim had learned both the Korean alphabet and 1,000 Chinese characters by studying the Thousand Character Classic, a 6th-century Chinese poem.[6]

At three years old, he was able to solve calculus problems, and also published a 247-page best-selling book of his essays in English and German, as well as his calligraphy and illustrations.[5][1] By the age of five, Kim could speak Korean, English, French, German and Japanese.[6] That year, he enrolled at Grant High School in Los Angeles after an article was published about him in Look magazine that caught the attention of the school.[7] He also audited a physics class at Hanyang University.[1]

At the age of five, Kim appeared on Fuji Television in Japan and shocked the audience by solving differential equations. Later he appeared on Japanese television again, where he solved complicated differential and integral calculus problems. At age eight, he left Korea and became a researcher at NASA; he later recalled of the experience:[1]

I was really lonely. No one ever made friends with me. After work hours, I could exercise and enjoy my hobbies, but there was no one to accompany me. I came from another country and I was young, so there were no seats for children even though everyone was an adult.

Kim solving Differential Equations at the age of 7

Kim allegedly went to study nuclear physics at the University of Colorado when he was eight years old, according to popular sources.[1] However, at the time of his college entrance exam's fitness section—where he gained much media attention—his father revealed to reporters that going to Japan to shoot the Fuji TV show was the "one and only time he went out of the country", and that the information of his Ph.D and master's degree progress in the States was "journalistic nonsense".[8] His statement that Kim did not leave at all is slightly detracted by the statement of Kim's mother, who stated that while he did "leave for a short moment to audit classes at the University of Colorado", he was returned immediately due to their facilities being "inadequate for the [Kim]'s genius", who was then homeschooled until his college entrance exam.[9] While the specifics may be blurred, it is clear that the evidence is in favour of his attendance at the University of Colorado being a misconstrued rumour.

Upon returning to South Korea, Kim was required to formally complete South Korean schooling in order to get a job. He earned his elementary, middle, and high school degrees in just two years.[10] He later enrolled in Chungbuk National University where he studied civil engineering and earned a Ph.D.[1]

As of 2007, he served as adjunct faculty at Chungbuk National University. On March 14, 2014, he became associate professor in Shinhan University, and became vice president of North Kyeong-gi Development Research Center.

In 2010, Kim criticized the idea that he is a "failed genius". Reflecting upon the label, he stated, “I’m trying to tell people that I am happy the way I am. But why do people have to call my happiness a failure?”.[10] Additionally, he added that "Some think people with a high IQ can be omnipotent, but that's not true. Look at me, I don't have musical talent, nor am I excelling in sports. [...] Society should not judge anyone with unilateral standards – everyone has different learning levels, hopes, talents, and dreams and we should respect that".[11][12]

Kim claims that he studied at the University of Colorado, worked at NASA as a "Human Calculator," and has an IQ of 210. However, there is no evidence to support his claims. There are no records or witnesses to verify his attendance at the University of Colorado. According to immigration records, he has never stayed abroad for long time. Additionally, Kim's father mentioned in an interview that Kim went to Japan just once for Japanese TV Show and he homeschooled his son for 10 years.