At the age of 3, earning 1,000 euros per song, opening her own art gallery at 2, and obtaining a PhD in Physics at 15… who can achieve more than they have?
The Most Extraordinary Children in the World
1. Kim Ung Yong – Entered university at 4, earned a PhD at 15, holds the highest IQ in the world
Kim Ung-yong, born on March 7, 1963, is considered a prodigy from South Korea. According to the Guinness World Records, he has an IQ of 210. By 5 months, he could walk and talk, and by 7 months, he was writing and playing chess. He began learning calculus at just 3 years old and could read and write in Japanese, Korean, German, and English before his fourth birthday. In 1967, at the age of 4, he solved complex calculus problems on Japanese television and was fluent in four languages: German, English, Japanese, and Korean.
Kim Ung-yong: the prodigy from South Korea.
He was a guest student at Han Yang University from age 3 until he turned 6. At 7, he was invited to the United States by NASA. He completed his undergraduate studies and obtained his PhD in Physics from Colorado State University before turning 15. In 1974, while still in college, he began research work at NASA and continued there until returning to South Korea in 1978.
In South Korea, his PhD in Physics and experience at NASA were considered useless, and he had to start studying again. He decided to switch from Physics to Civil Engineering and eventually earned a doctorate in this field. Kim was offered opportunities to study at the most prestigious schools in South Korea but ultimately chose to attend a provincial school.
Setting aside the pressure, he focused on his studies and graduated. Kim Ung Yong admits that this was the happiest time of his life. After becoming a bachelor, he worked at the Land and Environment Research Institute.
Since 2007, Kim has been working in the business development office at Chungbuk University. He has published numerous scientific articles contributing to the development of South Korea.
In 2014, Kim Ung Yong became a professor at Shinhan University in Gyeonggi Province at the age of 52. To this day, he continues to participate in educational consulting in South Korea. Notably, he offers much advice to parents on how to educate their children appropriately, emphasizing not to impose heavy pressures that could harm them.
Reflecting on Kim Ung Yong’s story, many realize that being a prodigy does not guarantee happiness. He himself confided: “People hope I become an outstanding politician or a brilliant economist, but I do not consider my decisions a failure. I am successful and happy in my current life.”
Both of his parents are university professors who were born at the same time: 11:00 AM on May 23, 1934.
2. Gregory Smith – Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize at 12
Gregory Smith, born in 1990 in the United States, is an extraordinary child. He learned to read at 2 years old and entered college at 10. He graduated from college at 13 with numerous honors and is currently pursuing four PhDs at the University of Virginia.
Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize at 12.
At 9, Smith founded the International Youth Advocates, an organization that promotes peace and non-violence; he has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four times. Gregory Smith has met with Presidents Bill Clinton and Mikhail Gorbachev, interacted with Nobel laureates and other leaders, appeared before the United Nations Security Council, and represented the CCF (Christian Children’s Fund) at a special session discussing children’s rights at the United Nations.
Among Gregory’s most remarkable achievements is establishing Peace Schools in war-torn Kenya and the first public library in Rwanda.
3. Akrit Jaswal – A 7-year-old surgeon
Born on April 23, 1993, Akrit Jaswal gained worldwide fame for his innate surgical talent. At the age of 7, despite never having attended any medical courses, he became known for performing a finger separation surgery on an 8-year-old girl whose fingers were fused together after a burn accident.
Akrit Jaswal: the prodigy surgeon from India.
Since the age of 4, he has been particularly interested in reading books such as Gray’s Anatomy, anesthesiology, cancer, and many other medical topics.
In an IQ test, Akrit scored 146. This prodigy doctor is also referred to as the “smartest boy in the world.”
At 11, Akrit was admitted to Punjab University in India, making him the youngest student in the country. His fame continued to spread. Around the same time, the young surgical expert was invited to Imperial College in London to discuss simplifying the basic medical curriculum with scientists. Akrit boldly stated that he had millions of ideas for medicine, but he was focusing on developing a method for cancer treatment.
4. Cleopatra Stratan: The 3-year-old singer earning 1,000 euros per song
At just 3 years old, Cleopatra is already incredibly famous.
Cleopatra Stratan, a 3-year-old from Moldova, became the youngest successful singer in the world after performing for 2 hours with 28 songs at the Bucharest Theatre in Romania.
The concert had 400 audience members, and accompanying Cleopatra Stratan was her father, Moldova’s leading singer, Pavel Stratan. Cleopatra also became the first artist to perform live on stage in front of a large audience at the age of 3.
Throughout the performance, Cleopatra Stratan introduced songs from her debut album “Age 3,” including popular songs like “Mama” and “Ghita.” She sold 150,000 records within four months, setting a world record for the youngest singer to release a record. Additionally, Cleopatra also set the record for the highest-paid young singer.
Cleopatra has also achieved great success in music, and in May 2007, she won three MTV Romania awards. Her song “Ghita” – the most popular song in Romania – earned Cleopatra the title of Best New Artist.
5. Aelita Andre: The 2-year-old painter exhibiting in a famous gallery
Aelita Andre and some of her works.
Aelita Andre, a girl who could not yet tie her shoelaces, has been the star of many art exhibitions around the world. At 3 years old, she made headlines when she appeared on the magazine The Age last year. At just 2 years old, this petite Australian artist had already exhibited her paintings in a gallery on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Public reaction at that time was not positive, as many believed her parents were manipulating and exploiting her.
However, Aelita’s family ignored the criticism and continued to encourage their daughter to pursue her dreams. According to her father, all they did was support her; they collected the works she created on canvas and clothing. Everything she made was unique, which is why her artworks are highly valued. Aelita’s parents also asserted that all the money she earned is saved in a fund for her to use when she grows up.
According to Oddity, with 32 paintings sold at prices reaching 26,000 USD each, Aelita currently has a significant bank account.
6. Saul Aaron Kripke: Invited to work at Harvard while still in high school
Saul Aaron Kripke is considered one of the greatest contemporary philosophers today.
Born into a Jewish family, Saul Aaron Kripke was born in 1940 in New York and grew up in Omaha. By the fourth grade, he was proficient in algebra, and by the end of middle school, Saul had mastered algebra and calculus and began exploring philosophy. While in high school, he wrote several essays that would later transform the field of modern logic. One of these essays caught the attention of the mathematics department at Harvard University. Subsequently, he received a letter from Harvard inviting him to work there. His reply – at the time still a high school student – declined, stating, “My mother told me to finish high school and apply to college first.” After completing high school, Saul chose to attend Harvard University.
Saul Kripke has been awarded the Schock Prize – a prestigious philosophy award equivalent to the Nobel Prize. Today, he is regarded as one of the greatest contemporary philosophers in the world.
