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| Dignitaries of the 2023 Korea Image Awards by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) pose before the award ceremony at InterContinental Seoul COEX, southern Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of CICI |
Korea Image Awards given to actor Lee Jung-jae, figure skater Kim Yuna, swimmer Hwang Sun-woo
By Kim Rahn
Participants at the 2023 Korea Image Awards, bestowed by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) to people who help promote the nation's image abroad, unanimously said global awareness of Korea has significantly changed ― in a positive way ― over the last 20 years.
The CICI held the award ceremony, Wednesday, at InterContinental Seoul COEX, southern Seoul, also in celebration of the culture promotion advocacy group's 20th anniversary.
Lee Jung-jae, the lead actor of Netflix global hit series "Squid Game," who won the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award, said this award is meaningful because it reflects how Korean dramas, including "Squid Game," are being loved by viewers all around the world.
The first Korean to win an Emmy with the Netflix series, Lee also made his directorial debut in 2022 with the action film, "Hunt."
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| Actor/director Lee Jung-jae, left, poses after receiving the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award from Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) President Choi Jung-wha in a pre-recorded video released Wednesday. Courtesy of CICI |
"As a Korean, it was an honor that I played a small role in spreading Korean cultural content abroad," Lee, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to overseas filming, said through a pre-filmed video.
"(After the success and awards won by 'Squid Game,') I've become more careful and responsible in selecting which films to star in because people in other countries will watch them."
CICI President Choi Jung-wha said when she founded the group 20 years ago, many foreigners did not even know where Korea was located.
"Korea has excellent culture but not many people abroad recognized this, so I set up CICI. Now after 20 years, Korean culture has become the object of attention from global citizens," she said in her opening speech, adding that ambassadors from 63 countries took part in the ceremony.
Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin also noted people around the world catch what's going on in Korea ― not only culturally but also politically, economically and socially ― almost in real time. "They know almost everything about Korean culture. Korea has become an attractive country through its soft power," he said in his congratulatory address.
"The reasons that K-content is capturing the world is that it has universal messages anybody can relate to, and the energy and the passion of Korean people who are best in turning a crisis into an opportunity," Park said.
U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg cited major cultural achievements Korea has made in recent years, including the popularity of Korean dramas, achievements in sports such as advancement to the round of 16 in the World Cup, hosting the Frieze Art Fair, etc. "Tonight's awards show the examples of success on the world stage that South Korea now enjoys," he said in his congratulatory message.
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| Winners of the 2023 Korea Image Awards and dignitaries pose during the awarding ceremony at InterContinental Seoul COEX, southern Seoul, Wednesday. They are, from left, Italian Ambassador to Korea Federico Failla, French Ambassador Philippe Lefort, Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, figure skater Kim Yuna, Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) President Choi Jung-wha, swimmer Hwang Sun-woo, European Union Ambassador Maria Castillo Fernandez and British Ambassador Colin Crooks. Courtesy of CICI |
Figure skating queen Kim Yuna won the Korea Image Cornerstone Award, which honors the recipient's consistent role in raising Korea's global profile. In 2008, before she won a gold medal in 2010 and a silver in 2014 at Winter Olympics, she received the Korea Image Budding Youth Award when she was emerging as a promising athlete.
"The CICI recognized me when I was very young and gave me the budding youth award, and now after those years, I'm receiving the cornerstone award. I appreciate it," Kim said during the ceremony.
Swimmer Hwang Sun-woo, who set the new Korean record and Asian record at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021, won the Korea Image Budding Youth Award. "I want to be remembered as Korea's representative swimmer," Hwang said.
The Korea Image Stepping Stone Bridge Award went to "Euro Fashion House," a group of Europe-based luxury fashion brands, for helping to bridge Korea and the world by appointing Korean celebrities as their global ambassadors.
French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lefort, British Ambassador Colin Crooks, Italian Ambassador Federico Failla and European Union Ambassador Maria Castillo Fernandez received the award on behalf of the brands.
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