IPC's Hand Soldering World Championship at IPC APEX EXPO® drew 8 victors from competitions in China, Europe, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the U.S. Participants were challenged with building a functional electronics assembly within 1-hour time limit. Completing championship round with a nearly perfect score of 247 points out of 248, Min Seok Kim, Samsung Thales Company Limited (Korea), was crowned champion, earning $1,000 cash prize and Metcal MX5210 soldering station.