Popera singer, Swiss architect among recipients of Korea Image Awards

Life & Style

Published: 11 Jan. 2024, 15:32 Updated: 11 Jan. 2024, 15:32

Popera singer, Swiss architect among recipients of Korea Image Awards

Swiss Ambassador to Korea Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli, far left, Choi Jung-hwa, president of Corea Image Communication Institute, middle, and the three winners of Korea Image Awards 2024 pose for cameras at the InterContinental Seoul Coex hotel in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Wednesday evening. [CICI]

At the once-yearly Korea Image Awards 2024, cars, architecture, popera and traditional Korean music stole the limelight.

The 20th ceremony, hosted by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), took place at the InterContinental Seoul Coex hotel in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Wednesday evening.

CICI, established in 2003, is an organization affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that promotes Korean culture abroad and researches Korea’s international image.

The Korea Image Awards recognizes individuals or organizations for their contribution to elevating Korea’s image on the world stage.

Genesis, Hyundai Motor’s upscale automobile division, won the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award. The CICI praised Genesis for its growth in “both quantitative and qualitative aspects.” The brand has now sold over 1 million units of cars, and three of its SUV models earned the U.S. Top Safety Pick+ Award last August.

“Genesis has always put an emphasis on providing every single customer with the latest technology and good quality,” Song Min-kyu, the global head of Genesis, said upon receiving the prize. “One advantage of our cars is that we are inspired by the beauty of the blank space — an aesthetic valued in traditional Korean culture. It’s important that our customers feel comfort by such designs.”

While Genesis only caters to 19 nations as of now, Song stressed that the brand will continue to expand its market.

The Korea Image Stepping Stone Bridge Award went to Swiss architect Mario Botta. Botta has designed numerous buildings in Korea, including the Leeum Museum of Art in Yongsan District, central Seoul, and the Kyobo Tower in Seocho District, southern Seoul.

“I was able to see Korea’s presence in the world,” Botta said in a video, when asked about the projects he did in Korea. Botta was in Europe and was unable to make the event.

The famed pop-opera tenor Lim Hyung-joo won the Korea Image Capstone Award. Lim was deemed “the pioneer of Asian Popera” following his debut in 1998. Most of his 21 solo albums have dominated the weekly classic album sales charts, and in 2015 he was recognized as one of the world’s top three popera tenors by CNN.

When Lim went on stage to receive his award, Choi Jung-hwa, president of CICI, asked him, “What’s your secret to maintaining your beautiful voice?”

“I don’t drink alcohol nor do I smoke,” he said. “I don’t even drink caffeinated drinks like coffee or green tea.”

“I guess everything comes with a price!” Choi exclaimed.

Finally, Laure Mafo was named the recipient of the Korea Image Flowerstone Award. Mafo is a French pansori (traditional Korean narrative singing) singer who has been living in Korea since 2015. She has been promoting the genre to the world through performances and appearances on television.

“Many people ask me how I do pansori, which is quite difficult,” Mafo said while receiving her award. “But it’s my favorite thing to do in the world, so no matter how hard it is, I do my best.”

The Korea Image Awards 2024 was attended by notable guests, including politician Kim Han-gil, CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, JoongAng Holdings Chairman Hong Seok-hyun, Singaporean Ambassador to Korea Eric Teo and Swiss Ambassador to Korea Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]