Shin Bark-jae, chairman of NXP Semiconductors Korea, has received a top award from the Korean government in recognition of his contribution to the development of Korean sports, company officials said Friday.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choe Kwang-shik presented the award at a ceremony at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Oct.14. Shin won the Cheongryong Order of Sports Merit, the highest sports honor awarded by the government. 

Among other honorees was Lee Won-hee, a judoka who won the gold medal in the men’s 66-73 kg division at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. Shin had extended unsparing support for Korean sports while he was president of the Korean Hockey Association and chef de mission of Korean delegations to the Olympics Games in 2004, according to the officials.

(shinyb@heraldcorp.com)