Chapter 30
Seoul National University had announced the date for a special public lecture.
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On the Proof of the Riemann Hypothesis — Special Lecture by Author Yu A-yeon
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2:00 PM
Venue: Seoul National University Cultural Hall Main Auditorium
Eligibility: Mathematics majors at the master's level or above, and related researchers
How to apply: Contact the Seoul National University administrative office or apply by email.
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A special lecture that Professor Park Mu-yeol, who was well connected in academia, had requested Seoul National University to hold together with an in-house professor.
By the rules, if the speaker's identity was unclear, the university could not host the lecture.
But if they took the roundabout route of labeling it not as a 'lecture hosted by the university' but as a 'professor's private invitation seminar,' then the lecture could be held.
In short, it was a lecture in which a Seoul National University professor took responsibility for inviting a KAIST professor, and that KAIST professor took responsibility for inviting the unidentified author Yu A-yeon to speak.
This kind of two-stage invitation structure was actually not uncommon in academia.
And thanks to this trick, it was possible to keep the author's identity, Yu A-yeon, secret until the day of the lecture.
However.
In this case, if something went wrong, the liability would fall not on the university but on the two professors themselves.
A small risk like that was nothing compared to the benefit of being able to witness the proof process of the Riemann Hypothesis.
The news spread quickly.
Mathematics professors in Korea and abroad couldn't just ignore the news of this lecture.
The proof of the Riemann Hypothesis, of all things!
For mathematicians who had devoted their lives to mathematics, witnessing the moment one of the seven major math problems was solved would be a dreamlike moment they might see only once in their lives.
Perhaps it was an even rarer moment than observing Halley's Comet, which appears once every seventy-six years.
That was why mathematicians, one and all, were desperate to see Yu A-yeon's lecture.
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The break room of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Seoul National University.
Professors who had read the special lecture announcement were chatting with one another.
“Did you see it? The special lecture announcement.”
An analysis professor in his early sixties said as he set down his coffee.
“I did. You're going too, right?”
The analysis professor replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“Of course I'm going. I have to. Do you know what kind of event this is?”
“But the seating is the problem. They said only mathematics majors at the master's level or above could enter, and our department alone already has several people. If you count the people coming from other universities too… it’s going to be tight.”
“Sorry, but I'll go in first. I want to see it from the front row.”
“What? What are you talking about? I'm the one who'll go in first.”
“Oh? What's your specialty? Combinatorics, isn't it?”
“What's wrong with combinatorics?”
“Your field has nothing to do with the Riemann Hypothesis. I'm in analysis. It's only right that I, whose specialty is at least closer, sit up front.”
“What do you mean? By that logic, you're in PDEs too. You're far removed from the Riemann Hypothesis, which belongs to number theory. Stop making excuses.”
Then.
The break room door opened, and a professor specializing in number theory walked in.
“Are you two talking about the lecture too?”
“Yes. Are you going too?”
“Of course. I'll bring all the graduate students from our lab too.”
“What? Even the graduate students?”
“It might be a historic moment, so I have to show it to my students. Even if they don't understand, won't they at least feel the atmosphere on site?”
The number theory professor said calmly as he poured himself some coffee.
“Ah, for your information, we've already submitted our application.”
Seeing how calm he was, the two professors both got up at once, thinking they'd lose their chance if they didn't apply quickly too.
“I need to submit mine right now too! Including spots for the graduate students in our lab!”
“I guess I should too.”
The two professors burst out of the break room door almost simultaneously.
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Seoul National University's administrative office.
The staff at the office were busy fending off nonstop ringing phones.
“Yes, this is the Seoul National University administrative office.”
“— I'd like to inquire about Yu A-yeon's special lecture. I’m a professor in the Korea University Department of Mathematics.”
“Ah, yes. The Yu A-yeon special lecture is open only to mathematics majors and related researchers. I'll submit the registration request for you.”
“— How long will it take to process?”
After review, it'll take two days to—
“— T-two days? Won't the seats be gone by then?”
“I'm sorry. We're getting a lot of applications right now, so—”
“— Damn… I'll apply right now. Six people from our lab.”
As soon as one call ended, another started ringing.
“— This is the Yonsei University Department of Mathematics.”
“— This is POSTECH's Department of Physics calling.”
“— I'm a professor in KAIST's Department of Mathematical Sciences. I confirmed that Professor Park Mu-yeol's name is listed as the person in charge. Since I actually know Professor Park Mu-yeol, how could I not be assigned a front-row seat?”
…
The administrative staff member set the receiver down for a moment and said to a colleague beside them,
“Haa… can we really handle this?”
The colleague shook their head while looking at the monitor.
“It's already half full. This is bad.”
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The office of a POSTECH physics professor.
The professor was on the phone with a professor from another university.
“Yeah, I just heard too.”
“— Are there a lot of people there? Our lab has quite a few people.”
“I don't know. Just apply quickly. I just bought train tickets too.”
As soon as the professor hung up, he called over a graduate student.
“Cancel this Saturday's seminar.”
“Professor, we invited an outside speaker.”
“Ask for their understanding. Something urgent came up.”
“Where are you going?”
“Seoul.”
“Why Seoul…?”
The professor was already drafting an email to send to Seoul National University.
“The author who wrote the paper proving the Riemann Hypothesis is coming in person to give a lecture.”
“The Riemann Hypothesis…? But we're a theoretical physics lab.”
“Haa… don't you know the Riemann Hypothesis is basically a half-physics problem dealing with quantum energy levels? If anything, we have more in common with it than fields like applied mathematics. We don't have time for this. I'm taking everyone in the lab. Hurry and make the list.”
“Uh… everyone? Including the PhD students and master's students? Me too?”
“Yes. You have to see something like this in person. You may never get another chance in your entire life. If you understand, move quickly.”
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A phone rang in the office of a Princeton mathematics professor.
The professor jumped to his feet as soon as he answered.
“Is that true? A-yeon Yu? The author of the paper?”
He wore an expression of barely contained excitement.
“Seoul National University. When?”
“Alright. I'll be there.”
The professor hung up and said to the graduate student,
“Cancel my conference schedule for next week.”
“Professor, you've already been confirmed as the keynote speaker.”
“Cancel it. I'll write the apology email myself.”
“Where are you going?”
The professor answered briefly.
“SEOUL.”
The professor had already opened a flight search window.
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The seating problem for the lecture hall was far more serious than Seoul National University had expected.
Only mathematics majors at the master's level or above, and related researchers, were allowed to enter.
Even after specifically excluding the general public and undergraduates, applications still flooded in so heavily that they couldn't keep up.
In the end, the lecture hall exceeded capacity just two days after the special lecture announcement.
But that didn't stop application emails from mathematics professors at universities across the country from pouring in.
And that wasn't all.
Applications even started coming in from renowned universities overseas.
“M-Mr. Director, this is a disaster! Applications are still coming in even though we're already full!”
The head of the administrative office let out a long sigh and said,
“Haa, can't be helped. Assign another annex auditorium and stream the lecture live. We can't turn away applications.”
“Yes, sir!”
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The media organizations were also bustling with activity.
Considering how packed the venue would be, Seoul National University decided that only academic media would be allowed in to cover it.
General entertainment media and popular papers were not allowed entry.
Even so, dozens of outlets applied for entry by claiming academic coverage credentials.
There were only a limited number of press seats.
While Seoul National University was struggling with the headache of it all,
it was belatedly revealed that one media outlet had already claimed a press seat before the lecture date had even been officially announced.
Though no one knew how they'd gotten the information, they had even already secured permission to bring in camera equipment.
Reporters from other outlets protested.
“How did you get in before us!”
“Who tipped you off!”
The Seoul National University administrative staffer had nothing to say.
Because once permission had been granted, it couldn't be revoked.
In the end, the press seats were finalized in the order they had been claimed.
And the reporter who had secured the camera spot in the front row was none other than reporter Lee Dong-hyun.
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At last!
The day of the lecture had arrived!