The Queen's College Record 2023

a few months after starting out at Mapo High School in South Korea, a family friend
introduced Gwang Hoon to the Elizabeth Moir School, an international school in
Sri Lanka. After a conversation with the principal at the school who clearly saw his
potential, Gwang Hoon made an executive decision to stay and pursue his studies
in Sri Lanka.
At the Elizabeth Moir School, Gwang Hoon’s scholarly endeavours knew no bounds.
The principal of the school was hugely supportive of Gwang Hoon’s admission and
supported him through his academic journey. With a fervent passion for the sciences,
he received recognition for his academic achievements through scholarships and
awards throughout his school years. Yet, Gwang Hoon’s brilliance extended far
beyond the confines of the classroom. He was a natural leader, being the student
council president only a few years after coming to a new country. His presence and
warmth inspired his peers and evoked admiration from both friends and teachers; the
warmth of his character and the resilience of his spirit were celebrated by everyone
who knew him. Moreover, Gwang Hoon exhibited unwavering commitment as a
devoted member of his local church. At the recommendation of Pastor Kwon, who
was his host family in Sri Lanka, Gwang Hoon wholeheartedly immersed himself in
church activities.
Obituaries
It came as no surprise when he was given an offer to read Materials Science at
Queen’s College, Oxford, as he was one of the very top students in his school. Gwang
Hoon won the IGCSE World Prize in Mathematics and Further Pure Mathematics,
and he achieved a perfect score across six units in A Level Maths. Thoughtful and
concerned with his family’s financial situation, he was contemplating going to another
university that would provide him with a full scholarship. However, with the love and
support from his family, in October 2014, Gwang Hoon travelled all the way from
Sri Lanka to Oxford to pursue his studies in Materials Science. It was during his
time at Oxford that I had the privilege of meeting him through the Oxford University
Korean Society.
Gwang Hoon possessed immense talent, yet he remained humble. He was brilliantly
intelligent, yet he never shied away from hard work. He could be the life of the party
without having a single drink (though he never said no to a pint). He would enjoy a
wild night, indulging in Domino’s and Hassan’s at 4am, and still manage to be up and
ready for a 9am lecture the following day. Whenever he took out his guitar, we knew
we were in for a spectacular performance. We often joked that he was overqualified
for the Korean Society band, and it was true.
During his studies, Gwang Hoon engaged in various research internships. In the
summer of 2016, he worked as a summer research intern at the Interdisciplinary Centre
for Advanced Materials Simulation, focusing on the modelling of magnetic properties
of iron. For his final year, he joined the Oxford Micromechanics Group, collaborating
with Ed Tarleton and Angus Wilkinson on crystal plasticity FEA simulations. His work
College Record 2023 | The Queen’s College 111