Annual ceremony recognizes individuals who enhance Korea‘s image and brand globally

From left: Olympic fencer Oh Sang-uk, table tennis player Shin Yu-bin, Corea Image Communication Institute President Choi Jung-wha and chef Edward Lee post for a photo at the Korea Image Awards ceremony held at InterContinental Seoul Parnas on Wednesday. (CICI)
From left: Olympic fencer Oh Sang-uk, table tennis player Shin Yu-bin, Corea Image Communication Institute President Choi Jung-wha and chef Edward Lee post for a photo at the Korea Image Awards ceremony held at InterContinental Seoul Parnas on Wednesday. (CICI)

Diplomats, business leaders and cultural figures from around the world gathered at the InterContinental Seoul Parnas on Wednesday evening for the annual Korea Image Awards, which has recognized the country's most distinguished cultural ambassadors since the Corea Image Communication Institute's founding in 2003.

"When passion and wisdom come together, we can achieve remarkable things," said CICI President Choi Jung-wha as she opened the ceremony with well-wishes for the Year of the Blue Snake.

In his keynote speech, Jin Roy Ryu, chairman of Poongsan Group, touched on Korea's evolving global presence and the need to match economic might with cultural influence.

British Ambassador Colin Crooks drew gasps from the crowd when he launched into his congratulatory remarks in perfect Korean.

"It is truly exciting to see the UK and Korea come together as soft power superpowers," he said, citing British architect Thomas Heatherwick's appointment as director general of the Seoul Architecture Biennale as the latest sign of deepening cultural ties.

The evening's first honor, the Stepping Stone Award, went to Olympic fencer Oh Sang-uk, who made history as the first Asian athlete to achieve a career Grand Slam in major international competitions. The two-time Paris Olympic gold medalist spoke about the distinct pressures of team events versus individual competitions.

"In team matches, you feel this intense pressure," Oh said. "The weight of your teammates on your shoulders – it just makes you sweat like crazy." He reflected on his historic achievement with humility: "Actually, I had no idea I was the first in Asia until someone told me later. Maybe that was better – less pressure that way."

Korean American chef Edward Lee stepped up to receive the Stepping Stone Bridge Award, fresh off his star turn on Netflix's cooking competition series "Culinary Class Wars." Lee, who was selected as the guest head chef of 2023's White House State Dinner for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, spoke about his lifelong connection to Korean cuisine.

"Korean food is my whole identity," Lee said. "Growing up in America, I didn't have much exposure to Korean culture, so Korean food was my connection to the culture."

The room lit up when Lee invited his 85-year-old mother Lee Soon-ja to the stage.

"I can't even tell if I'm sitting or standing right now," the elder Lee joked, drawing laughs as she claimed credit for her son's culinary talent while chalking up his manners to his father.

Table tennis star Shin Yubin took home the Flowerstone Award, following her comeback from a long-term wrist injury to clinch bronze medals in mixed doubles and team events at the Paris Olympics. Known for her characteristic victory chirps -- a childhood habit that became her signature -- Shin outlined her aspirations beyond athletic achievement.

"I want to grow as both an athlete and a person," she said.

The ceremony paid special tribute to literary translators, whose behind-the-scenes work gained fresh recognition after Han Kang's historic Nobel Prize in literature. Translators' efforts have helped Korean literature secure over 20 international literary awards since 2020, organizers said.

The evening wrapped up with CJ Group Chairman Son Kyung-shik and Japanese Ambassador Koichi Mizushima raising a toast, followed by performances from Broadway-acclaimed percussion group Nanta and French-trained jazz musician Ubare.

(Front row, from left) Table tennis player Shin Yu-bin, Chairman of Poongsan Group and Federation of Korean Industries Ryu Jin, CICI President Choi Jung-wha, Chef Edward Lee, fencer Oh Sang-wook, Edward Lee’s mother Lee Soon-ja, Cs CEO Didier Beltoise, (Back row, from left) British Ambassador Colin Crooks, Pernod Ricard Korea CEO Franz Horton, UAE Ambassador Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, Singaporean Ambassador Eric Teo, Artistic Director of PMC Production Song Seung-whan, Japanese Ambassador Koichi Mizushima, French Ambassador Philippe Lefort, Lebanese Ambassador Antoine Azzam pose for a photo at the Korea Image Awards ceremony held at InterContinental Seoul Parnas on Wednesday. (CICI)
(Front row, from left) Table tennis player Shin Yu-bin, Chairman of Poongsan Group and Federation of Korean Industries Ryu Jin, CICI President Choi Jung-wha, Chef Edward Lee, fencer Oh Sang-wook, Edward Lee’s mother Lee Soon-ja, Cs CEO Didier Beltoise, (Back row, from left) British Ambassador Colin Crooks, Pernod Ricard Korea CEO Franz Horton, UAE Ambassador Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, Singaporean Ambassador Eric Teo, Artistic Director of PMC Production Song Seung-whan, Japanese Ambassador Koichi Mizushima, French Ambassador Philippe Lefort, Lebanese Ambassador Antoine Azzam pose for a photo at the Korea Image Awards ceremony held at InterContinental Seoul Parnas on Wednesday. (CICI)