Seoul, July 19: A South Korean man in his 30s was recently recognised as having the highest IQ in history. The man, identified as Kim Young-hoon, reportedly scored 276 at the World Memory Championships. The news was confirmed by the World Mind Sports Council, the competition's organiser, on Thursday, July 18. In an official note on its website, the World Mind Sports Council said that Young Hoon Kim was ranked number 1 in the world in 2024 by Reader’s Digest.

The WMSC further said that Young Hoon Kim is the highest IQ record holder certified by the Korea Record Institute, World Genius Directory, Global Genius Registry, Esoteric Society, and GIGA Society. "The World Mind Sports Council hereby recognizes YoungHoon Kim from South Korea as the person with the highest IQ in the world and congratulates him," the official note read. Same-Sex Couples Eligible for Same Health Insurance Benefits As Heterosexual Couples, Refusal Violates Principle of Equality: South Korea’s Supreme Court in Landmark Verdict.

Young Hoon Kim Records Highest IQ in History

It must be noted that before Young Hoon Kim, Terence Tao, a Chinese-Australian professor, held the title of the person with the highest IQ in the world. Notably, Terence Tao had an IQ of 230.

Who Is Young Hoon Kim?

According to several news reports, Young Hoon Kim is a 35-year-old graduate of Yonsei University in Seoul. Kim is also the only Korean member of both the Mega Society and the Giga Society. Both societies accept members with exceptionally high IQs. Kim is also the founder of the United Sigma Intelligence Association. The USIA comprises some of the greatest minds, including Noam Chomsky, Yuval Harari, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Anthony Giddens, and Terence Tao, among others. US, Japan, South Korea Vow to Boost Trilateral Ties Amid Rising Security Risks from China, North Korea.

The World Mind Sports Council (WMSC) is a global organisation that organizes brain championships. It was founded by Tony Buzan, the founder of mind mapping. Besides the World Memory Championships, Young Hoon Kim holds the World Speed Reading Championships and the World Mind Mapping Championships.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 19, 2024 04:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).