The Ministry of Science and Technology said Sunday South Korean high school students shared first place with their counterparts from the United States at the 34th International Physics Olympiad held in Taipei, Taiwan, winning three gold and two silver medals.

It marked the first time the country has won the Olympiad since it started participating in the competition in 1992.

The Korean team ranked second in last year's 33rd Olympiad, in which 66 nations competed.