If a fire broke out while you were sleeping in a hotel, what would be the first thing you would reach for? For many people, it would probably be their smartphone. That simple thought inspired 12-year-old Kim Ji-on, an elementary school student from Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, to develop an unusual fire-safety invention: a smartphone grip that can unfold into an emergency breathing mask.
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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, reports The Korean Herald. She also plans to use the 3 million won ($2,120) prize money for something beyond herself. Kim intends to donate the money to help people in developing countries.
The festival was jointly held by the Korea Invention Promotion Association and the Ministry of Intellectual Property from July 30 to August 1, according to The Korea Herald.
