BERLIN -- The German political foundation, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, on Tuesday presented its human rights award to the 17 million South Koreans who took part in candlelight rallies in the Asian country last year to call for then-President Park Geun-hye's resignation over an influence-peddling scandal.
Jang Ae-jin, a survivor of the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking that left more than 300 dead or missing and a former student of Danwon High School, south of Seoul, received the 2017 FES Human Rights Award on behalf of the massive crowds during a ceremony in Berlin marking the presentation of the award.
The foundation, established in 1925 and associated with Germany's Social Democratic Party, has honored outstanding individuals and groups in promoting human rights since 1994.
The Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements, which spearheaded the rallies to urge Park to step down over the scandal implicating her longtime close friend Cho Soon-sil and leading to the ouster of Park, selected Jang as the representative of the citizens through an online vote.
Park, who took office in February 2013 and is now in jail over corruption charges, was impeached and removed from office in March for allowing her friend to interfere in state affairs for private gains.
Jang Ae-jin (L), a survivor of the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking, receives the 2017 FES Human Rights Award from Kurt Beck, head of the German political foundation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), during a ceremony in Berlin on Dec. 5, 2017. Jang received the award on behalf of South Koreans who took part in candlelight rallies last year to call for then-President Park Geun-hye`s resignation over an influence-peddling scandal. (Yonhap)
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