Kim Young-hoon, a Korean man claiming to have the world’s highest IQ of 276, has announced his intention to seek asylum in the United States, citing religious persecution by the South Korean government.
On October 30, Kim posted a 1-minute 35-second video in English on his social media, introducing himself as a Christian and the holder of the world’s highest IQ. He asserted, “I can no longer remain in Korea, which is under the control of a pro-North Korean leftist regime.”
Stating his plan to apply for asylum in the U.S., Kim declared, “I cannot continue living under a government that suppresses biblical truths and betrays the freedoms our ancestors fought to preserve. Today’s South Korean government punishes patriots while praising communists. Truth has become a crime, and faith is now a target. I refuse to yield to evil. I seek refuge in America, where religious freedom is protected.”
Kim further claimed, “The Republic of Korea no longer exists. Only North Korea remains, as the South Korean government has become pro-North.” He explained that he is the first Korean to seek asylum under the Trump administration due to political and religious persecution.
The “religious persecution” Kim referenced appears to allude to the recent arrest of Pastor Son Hyun-bo of Busan’s World Church, who was charged with violating election laws and local education statutes for allegedly endorsing a specific candidate during a worship service. Kim argued, “The South Korean government is imprisoning Christian pastors. I could face arrest for similar reasons. Religious freedom is under threat in Korea.”
However, some observers have suggested that Kim’s claims in the video may be exaggerated or reflect a particular political stance.
Kim Young-hoon, the sole Korean member of the Mega Society – an elite group comprising individuals with intelligence in the top 0.0001% worldwide – officially recorded an IQ of 276 at the 2024 World Memory Championships. The Korea Record Institute has certified him as holding the highest IQ on record, and he remains the only Korean admitted to the Mega Society.
Kim has also achieved perfect scores of 160 on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale in 2018 and 204 on a high-level IQ test with a standard deviation of 24 in 2022. He is listed as the world’s top-ranked individual in IQ in various publications, including the World Genius Directory and the Giga Society.
Kim first gained public recognition in 2015 when he appeared on SBS’s “Genius Discovery” program. Introduced as having an IQ of 175, he impressed viewers by perfectly memorizing a shuffled deck of 104 poker cards in just over ten minutes, earning him the moniker “Korea’s genius boy.”
In several media interviews, including with Arirang TV Korea, Kim has stated, “IQ is not a source of pride; it’s a responsibility. I want to use it to demonstrate human potential.” He expressed his desire to contribute to creating a better world by researching ways to expand the brain’s capabilities, driven by the responsibility that comes with holding the title of the world’s highest IQ.
Following his initial appearance on “Genius Discovery,” Kim was featured on KBS’s “Ask Anything” last year. He remarked, “Having high intelligence doesn’t mean I excel at everything. People often misunderstand me as having superhuman abilities.” He explained, “If I fall short in any area, I’m labeled a fraud. That’s why I chose to become a pastor instead of a scientist or doctor; I wanted to find meaning beyond human intelligence.”
Recently, Kim appeared as the world’s highest intelligence individual on SBS’s “This Is Amazing,” where he stated, “I pushed my IQ higher out of curiosity about my limits.” He amazed the production team by recalling 45 lottery numbers he had heard once and reciting them in reverse order. Kim emphasized, “Intelligence isn’t innate; it’s a trainable skill,” revealing that he has pursued studies in various fields including sociology, linguistics, psychology, and theology each year.
Kim is currently enrolled in a Master of Theology program at a seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the U.S. He previously served as the CEO of Neurostory, a platform offering brain training programs based on AI algorithms.