From left: Monk Ahn Sun-jae (Grand Prize winner for Literature), Poet Kim Yong-taek (Grand Prize winner for Literature), Dean of the Won Korean Buddhism Order Kim Hye-shim (Grand Prize winner for Practice), Professor Hoon Kim (Grand Prize winner for Practice), and Claude Ganza, First Counselor at the Embassy of Rwanda in Seoul, who received the Grand Prize for Peace on behalf of Rwandan President Paul Kagame. (Image provided by the Rwanda Embassy in Seoul)

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has been recognized at the Manhae Grand Prize Ceremony for his role in fostering peace and stability in the African nation following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the Rwanda Embassy in Seoul said Wednesday.

The president received the Peace Award at the 28th Manhae Grand Prize Ceremony on Monday for his contributions to the African nation's post-genocide recovery, as well as his efforts in promoting forgiveness, reconciliation and nation-building over retribution, according to the embassy.

"President Kagame's leadership has not only brought peace to Rwanda but also propelled the nation to become one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, with significant strides in gender equality recognized by the international community," the embassy said.

Established in 1997, the Manhae Grand Prize Awards commemorate the legacy of Han Yong-un, known by his pen name Manhae, a revered Korean independence activist and poet. This year's event shed light on honoring Manhae's ideals of freedom, peace and independence.

Among the previous recipients are Nelson Mandela in 2004 for his lifelong dedication to world peace and the Dalai Lama in 2005, who advocated peaceful solutions for the freedom of the Tibetan people.