Kim Ung-Yong: The 8-year-old child prodigy who worked for NASA

The story of Kim Ung-Yong is one of an extraordinary mind. He had mental capabilities beyond our wildest dreams, and he achieved intellectual feats nothing short of awe-inspiring. 

Born on March 8, 1962, in the capital of South Korea, Seoul, Kim wasted no time fueling his intellect. At just a year old, Kim already mastered both the Korean alphabet and over 1,000 Chinese characters.Son of a physics professor father and a mother who taught at Seoul National University, Kim-Ung Yong seemed to be destined for academic greatness from the start. However, no one could have imagined how his intellect would develop.

By three, he was solving calculus problems. He also, astoundingly, published – with the help of his parents – a 247-page book of essays, calligraphy, and illustrations in both English and German!

Kim Ung-Yong’s incredible and insatiable intellect seemed to explode into existence from the moment of his birth. And, despite his youth, Kim’s talents were undeniable. The Korean genius quickly gained international attention.By the age of five, he already spoke five different languages fluently – Korean, Japanese, English, German, and French. He even attended a physics class at Hanyang University.

It was clear from the outset that Kim’s exceptional abilities would change the course of his life, and maybe even that of humanity, forever.

Kim’s prodigious intelligence and exceptional abilities attracted plenty of attention from a very young age. And the child prodigy would continue to impress. At four years old, Kim astounded professionals by scoring an astonishing 210 on an IQ test designed for seven-year-olds. This impressive feat led him to obtain the world’s highest IQ by the Guinness Book of World Records.

His reputation continued to grow when he demonstrated his mathematical abilities on Japanese television at the age of five. On Fuji TV, in Japan, Kim Ung-Yong appeared on viewers’ screens, solving complex differential and integral calculus problems to their amazement Kim’s relentless displays of intellect would even grab the attention of one of the world’s most renowned organizations.

Kim Ung-Yong’s extraordinary intelligence got him recruited by the world-renowned space agency, NASA, at the age of eight.

An opportunity that was unheard of for someone so young, Kim knew he had to take it. He worked for NASA for about a decade. During this time, he constantly amazed his colleagues with his exceptional memory and with his ability to solve complex mathematical problems.

However, working at NASA wasn’t all it was chalked up to be, and his new life wasn’t easy. He felt lonely and isolated. He had no friends other than the adults he worked with, who were older and too busy to socialize with him.

Despite not even being a teenager, he worked incredibly hard and made many valuable contributions to the organization. But, eventually, he grew disillusioned with the work he was doing. Kim felt that his research was being used for destructive purposes and that his superiors were taking credit for his hard work and ideas.

Feeling unappreciated, undervalued, and unhappy, Kim decided to return to South Korea in 1978 and finish his schooling. He completed all of his requisite studies and earned his high school equivalency degree in just two years. After this, he enrolled in a regional university to study civil engineering.

Kim’s decision was met with skepticism and criticism from those who saw his departure from NASA as a waste of his incredible talents. Despite all his prior achievements, the rest of his life would be plagued with these sorts of critiques.

After completing his Ph.D., Kim Ung-Yong quietly obtained a position in a Korean company named Chungbuk Development, working as a middle manager.

The former child prodigy was criticized by some as a “failed genius” for not living up to the incredible intellect he possessed. Still, he’s remained optimistic and quite content with his life.

In 2007, he worked as an adjunct faculty member at Chungbuk National University. In 2014, Kim finally fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a professor. Finally leaving Chungbuk Development, he joined the staff of Shinhan University as an associate professor at the ripe age of 51 years old Upon starting his new position, Kim reportedly told media outlets he was incredibly excited, saying, “I will devote myself to teaching the next generation.”

Although his resume falls short of extraordinary, it seems Kim Ung-Yong instead decided from an early age to prioritize happiness over the world records, high IQ, and ‘success’ of his childhood.

Many may see the life of Kim Ung-Yong as

 disappointing or a failure. But there are better lessons to learn from his twisting, fascinating life story.