12-Year-Old Wins $2,120

A 12-year-old named Kim has won $2,120 for inventing a smartphone grip that doubles as a breathing mask. Her invention won the Presidential Award, the highest honour at the 2026 Youth Invention Festival, beating entries submitted by older middle and high school students.

The 2026 Youth Invention Festival was jointly held by the Korea Invention Promotion Association and the Ministry of Intellectual Property from July 30 to August 1. Kim's invention contains activated carbon fiber and a nonwoven filter designed to trap fine particles, making it a potentially life-saving device in the event of a fire.

Kim's idea for the invention began with a news report about a hotel fire in Bucheon that killed seven people. She was particularly moved by the fact that some trapped guests had made final phone calls to their families, and she began wondering what could have helped people survive while they waited for rescuers to arrive.

The idea for the smartphone grip came to Kim during a school visit to a local fire station, where a firefighter explained that smoke and toxic gases can incapacitate people before flames actually reach them. Kim realized that a familiar object, such as a smartphone grip, could be used to build protection against toxic fumes.

Kim plans to donate the $2,120 prize money, equivalent to 3 million won, to help people in developing countries. Her selfless decision is a testament to her compassion and commitment to using her invention to make a positive impact.

## Why it matters Kim's invention has the potential to save lives in the event of a fire, and her decision to donate the prize money to help people in developing countries highlights the importance of using innovation to address global challenges. The fact that a 12-year-old has developed such a innovative solution to a real-world problem is a reminder of the power of young people to drive positive change.