Kim Jong-gyu, Chairman of the Cultural Heritage National Trust, Honored with Gwanghwamun Culture and Arts Award

Chairman Kim Jong-gyu of the Cultural Heritage National Trust. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] Kim Jong-gyu, Chairman of the Cultural Heritage National Trust, has been selected as the recipient of the 4th Gwanghwamun Culture and Arts Award.

Chairman Kim is a key figure who greatly contributed to growing Samsung Publishing, established in 1964, into one of Korea's leading publishing companies. He founded the Reading Newspaper and Literary Thought, and currently serves as the director of the Samsung Publishing Museum and honorary president of the Korean Museum Association.

He established Korea's first publishing museum through a lifelong collection of rare old books, and during his tenure as president of the Korean Museum Association, he successfully hosted the world's first museum conference in Asia, held in Seoul.

Since assuming the chairmanship of the Cultural Heritage National Trust in 2009, he has played a major role in reclaiming and restoring sites such as the Korean Empire Legation in Washington, USA, Beolgyo Boseong Inn in Jeonnam, and poet Lee Sang's house in Tongin-dong.

Chairman Kim has been awarded the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit, the Moran Medal of the Order of Civil Merit, the Ilmaek Culture and Arts Award, the Goun Culture and Arts Award, the Proud Museum Person Award, and the April 19 Culture Award, among others.

The Gwanghwamun Culture Forum was launched in January 2000, bringing together cultural and artistic figures as well as scholars, legal professionals, media, medical, and economic leaders who love culture and the arts. It annually presents the Gwanghwamun Culture and Arts Award. Past recipients include former Minister of Culture Lee O-young (1st award), former Seoul Arts Center President Lee Jong-deok (2nd award), and former Busan International Film Festival Executive Chairman Kim Dong-ho (3rd award).

The 4th award ceremony will be held on the 12th at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.