President Yoon Holds National Recommendation Award Ceremony Followed by Luncheon
"Honored to Present the Awards"
Father Yu Uibae, Chairman Son Jaehan Receive Moranjang Awards
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed his gratitude to the recipients of the National Recommendation Awards on the 16th, saying, "Our society does not operate solely on laws and systems. Your sacrifice, dedication, and service have developed our society to this point."
President Yoon conveyed these words of appreciation during a luncheon with the awardees following the National Recommendation Awards ceremony held at the Yongsan Presidential Office that morning, according to a written briefing by Lee Do-woon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office.
President Yoon also said, "It is a great personal honor to present these awards on behalf of our people."
The National Recommendation Awards is a system where citizens recommend neighbors who practice sharing and volunteering in our society, and the government awards them after review by the Awards Review Committee.
President Yoon Suk-yeol presented 4 National Orders of Merit, 1 National Medal, 6 Presidential Citations, and 6 Prime Minister Citations (a total of 19 recipients). These awardees were selected from 620 nominations recommended by the public.
Father Yu Eui-bae (Luis Maria Uribe), a Spanish national known as the "Blue-eyed Hansen’s Disease Friend," who has devoted 42 years to Hansen’s disease patients and people with severe disabilities, said upon receiving the award, "The Lord led me among them to show mercy, and that became a sweet taste in my body and mind," adding, "With this sweet heart, I express my gratitude to everyone."
Dr. Park Guk-yang, who has spent 36 years using his own funds to help marginalized groups, said, "My lifelong motto is that a doctor's 24 hours are for patients," and expressed his thanks, saying, "Helping children with heart disease find a healthy life is truly rewarding and a source of pride, so I feel sorry to receive such an award."
Mr. Park Yong-sik, who has supported and volunteered at child welfare facilities for 30 years, mentioned the importance of love for the country and neighbors, saying, "Volunteering is a good addiction, and volunteering makes you happy," which resonated with the attendees.
Meanwhile, Chairman Son Jae-han of the Hanseong Son Jae-han Scholarship Foundation, who donated assets worth approximately 70.4 billion KRW free of charge and has selected and supported scholarship students for 10 years, received the National Order of Merit, Moran Medal.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting Father Yu Ui-bae after awarding him the Moran Medal of the Order of Civil Merit at the Freedom Hall of the Yongsan Presidential Office Building on the 16th, in recognition of his 42 years of dedication to Hansen's disease patients and people with severe disabilities. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Chairman Kang Byung-jung of Nexen Group, who donated about 15 billion KRW in stocks as a development fund to Dong-A University, and the late Dr. Jang Eung-bok, who donated 11.3 billion KRW before passing away, also received the National Order of Merit, Moran Medal.
In addition, the late self-employed Ms. Sung Ok-sim, who spent her lifetime running a fabric store and inn in the market and donated 500 million KRW to Chungnam National University to help underprivileged students, was honored with the National Medal.
Other awardees include the couple Dr. Park Guk-yang and Mrs. Jo Tae-rye, who have performed over 430 free heart surgeries for marginalized groups domestically and abroad over 36 years through talent donation and led self-reliance efforts for homeless people and ex-convicts (Presidential Citation), and the couple Shin Woong-seon and Ahn Young-sook, who, despite suffering from incurable diseases, have delivered side dishes and provided bathing services for elderly living alone for 17 years (Prime Minister Citation).
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
