Kyung Hee University System Names Bulletin of Atomic Scientists as Miwon Peace Prize Laureate
The Kyung Hee University System announced the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, renowned for publishing the Doomsday Clock, as the recipient of the 2nd Miwon Peace Prize. The organization was recognized for pioneering peace advocacy and addressing existential global risks through science. The award ceremony will be held on September 21 during the UN International Day of Peace.
The Kyung Hee University System announced on Monday that the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the independent non-profit organization renowned for publishing the Doomsday Clock, has been selected as the recipient of the 2nd Miwon Peace Prize. The announcement was officially made during a ceremony held at the Grand Peace Hall of Kyung Hee University in Seoul.
The Miwon Peace Prize Selection Committee commended the organization as an outstanding candidate that has pioneered peace advocacy through scientific rigor. Former Director-General of UNESCO and Selection Committee Chair Irina Bokova stated that over the last eight decades, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has visualized how close humanity has brought itself to catastrophe through the Doomsday Clock, warning the world of the limitations of modern civilization. She added that through rigorous scientific analysis, the Bulletin has raised global awareness of existential risks, including nuclear weapons, climate change, and disruptive technologies, helping policymakers and the public pursue informed actions for peace and human security.
Established in 2024, the Miwon Peace Prize honors individuals or organizations that carry forward the peace philosophy of Dr. Young Seek Choue, founder of the Kyung Hee University System. Awarded biennially, the prize includes a grant of USD 200,000 for world peace realization, funded by donations from the Miwon Peace Prize Foundation created by the Kyung Hee Alumni Association in North America. The award ceremony will take place on September 21 during the 45th Peace BAR Festival, an international conference held in commemoration of the UN International Day of Peace.
Founded in 1945 by Manhattan Project scientists including Eugene Rabinowitch and Hyman Goldsmith, the Bulletin was created to bring the ethical responsibilities of nuclear science into public discourse. Its flagship initiative, the Doomsday Clock, launched in 1947, symbolizes humanity’s proximity to self-induced catastrophe. In January 2026, the Clock was set to 85 seconds to midnight, marking the most critical warning in its history due to compounding nuclear, climate, and technological threats.
Beyond warning the public, the Bulletin has fostered global public dialogue and civic engagement through its Next Generation Initiative and Arts and Science Initiative. Its prestigious Board of Sponsors, established by Albert Einstein in 1948 and first chaired by J. Robert Oppenheimer, has included more than 40 Nobel laureates over time. The Kyung Hee University System noted that by recognizing the Bulletin, it aims to reaffirm peace as a core civilizational imperative and seek new horizons of collective global responsibility.
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