CICI head to receive award for diplomacy

Choi Jung-hwa

Choi Jung-hwa, Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) head, is the recipient of the 2017 YoungSan Diplomat Award.

The YoungSan Diplomat Award Committee announced Monday that Choi will receive the award on July 4 at Seoul Plaza Hotel in central Seoul. The award ceremony will be attended by Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa, CJ Group head Sohn Kyung-shik and Japanese Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine.

The award is given annually to two people - a public official and an ordinary citizen - who have helped to raise Korea’s image and interests through diplomacy. Last year’s citizen winner was Lee Su-man, chairman of SM Entertainment.

As the head of CICI, Choi has been responsible for a number of global conferences and events. Founded in 2003, CICI is a nonprofit that promotes Korean culture overseas. Currently, she teaches at Graduate School of Interpretation & Translation at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]