Gu Ja-yeol, Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, and Brian Kemp, Governor of Georgia, USA, received the 'Van Fleet Award' on the 20th (local time) from the Korea Society, a non-profit organization promoting Korea-US friendship, for their contributions to the development of Korea-US relations.
The Korea Society held its 2023 annual dinner at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, New York, that evening and presented the Van Fleet Award. Considered one of the most prestigious awards in the Korea-US field, the Van Fleet Award is given annually by the Korea Society to individuals or organizations that have contributed to Korea-US relations.
Gu, chairman of the LS Group board and chairman of the Trade Association, received the award in recognition of his efforts to promote trade and investment between Korea and the US. In the past, Gu's late father, the late Gu Pyung-hoe, also received the same award in 1997. This is the second time a father and son have received the Van Fleet Award, following the late Choi Jong-hyun, former chairman of SK Group, and Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK.
At the award ceremony, Gu said, "Marking the 70th anniversary of the Korea-US alliance is a historic milestone in many ways," adding, "The Trade Association has played an important hub role in promoting trade and investment between the two countries to this day. I am honored to receive this award as the 31st chairman of the Trade Association representing over 73,000 companies."
He continued, "My father, Gu Pyung-hoe, also received this award in 1997 as the 23rd chairman of the Trade Association. He was one of the Korean businessmen who worked with the US after the Korean War and a staunch supporter of the Korea-US alliance," introducing, "His life story reflects, in many ways, the stories of the Trade Association bringing companies together and building bridges of friendship not only in trade and industry but also in all areas including culture." He then acknowledged, "Tonight, while we celebrate, we are also well aware of the many serious challenges ahead," and shouted "The Will to Win," a motto well known from General Van Fleet, receiving great applause from the attendees.
Governor Kemp, who also received the Van Fleet Award alongside Chairman Gu, was recognized for actively supporting Korean companies' entry into the US, creating quality jobs in the local community, and stabilizing supply chains in the technology sector.
Kemp mentioned that Georgia is the first state to receive the Van Fleet Award and emphasized the "special partnership between Georgia and Korea." He said, "(The partnership between Georgia and Korea) blossomed when Kia chose Georgia for its first US plant in 2006, has expanded year after year, and reached its peak as the largest economic development project in the state's history," adding, "I expect that relationship to continue to grow and prosper for the next 20, 20, and 30 years."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
