Three honored at event marking creative talents

Social Affairs

Published: 02 May. 2011, 22:44

Three honored at event marking creative talents

Hong Seok-hyun, the JoongAng Ilbo chairman, left, Yumin Culture Foundation board chairman Lee Hong-koo, third from left, and Lee O-young, senior adviser to the JoongAng Ilbo, right, pose before a relief of former JoongAng Ilbo chairman Hong Jin-ki at the Yumin Awards yesterday. Award winners were Bahk Jong-sun, second from left, a wood furniture designer; Lee Kang-rae, third from right, a Wonkwang University professor; and Kim Eun-seong, second from right, a professor at Kaist. By Kim Sang-seon

The second annual Yumin Awards were handed out yesterday to three Koreans in recognition of their work in the fields of science, society and culture during a ceremony at the JoongAng Ilbo building in central Seoul.

The awards are given out in memory of JoongAng Ilbo’s co-founder and former chairman, Hong Jin-ki, for his emphasis on creativity in society.

“It’s been 25 years since my father died,” said Hong Seok-hyun, the current JoongAng Ilbo chairman. “I am really moved by holding the Yumin Awards ceremony once again.” Yumin was the late JoongAng Ilbo chairman’s honorary title.

Kim Eun-seong, a physics professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, won the award in the category of Creative Science. The 39-year-old is also known as a competitive candidate for the upcoming Nobel Prizes.

“The various experiences that I had as student at Pusan National University led me to learn creativity,” Kim said. “I have dedicated myself to science so that I can be the representative of creative people in Korea.”

Lee Kang-rae, a professor in the business administration department at Wonkwang University, who founded an alternative school, Macji Education Institute in Gwangju, South Jeolla, for juvenile delinquents in 1997, won in the category of Creative Society.

“Before receiving this award, I learned that the former chairman had lived such a creative life before he died,” Lee said. “I hope he will give me a warm hug when I die and meet with him, saying ‘you deserved to receive the award.’ ”

A 42-year-old carpenter, Bahk Jong-sun, winner in the category of Creative Culture, is well-known for his style of wooden furniture. “When I heard I was the winner of the Yumin Award, I asked my friends and family how I would have to live my life to be deserving of the prize,” Bahk said. “They said ‘you just live the way you are.’ So I will go on in my way, but keeping the meaning of the prize in my mind.”

By Moon Byung-joo [heejin@joongang.co.kr]

한글 관련 기사 [중앙일보]

홍진기 창조인상…미래를 준비하는 영광의 얼굴들

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홍석현 중앙일보 회장은 가족을 대표한 인사말에서 “올해는 선친께서 돌아가신 지 25년이 되는 해로 2회 홍진기 창조인상 시상식을 맞아 특히 많은 감동을 느끼고 있다”고 소감을 전했다. 홍 회장은 “선친께서 자식같이 키워왔던 TBC(동양방송)가 태동하는 자리가 된 것 같아 기쁘다”고 말했다.