All five students representing South Korea at this year's International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) have won gold medals for the nation to finish the Olympiad in first place in the medal standings the second consecutive year.

The science ministry and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity said Monday that South Korea finished in first tied with China and Taiwan at the 45th International Physics Olympiad held in Kazakhstan from July 13 to 21.

Three-hundred-77 students from 83 countries competed this year and all five South Korean students took home gold.

The Olympiad first launched in 1967 in Warsaw, Poland by five eastern European countries. The annual event is held in a different country each year to bring together exceptional science students to forge friendships, hold cultural exchange and for countries to share information on scientific education.

Korea first participated in 1992 and has since taken part every year.