Young inventor turns phone grip into breathing aid for fire emergencies

If a fire broke out while you were sleeping in a hotel, what would be the easiest thing to grab? Most likely, your smartphone. The idea led to the invention of a smartphone grip that transforms into an emergency breathing mask. It won the top prize at the 2026 Youth Invention Festival, jointly held by the Korea Invention Promotion Association and the Ministry of Intellectual Property from July 30 to Aug. 1, according to news reports Friday. Behind the invention was Kim Ji-on, a 12-year-old eleme