Ministry of the Interior and Safety Holds National Recommendation Award Ceremony
Late Lee Soon-nan and Others Receive National Medal of Honor
Han Jong-seop, a grandmother who operated a silk factory and donated her lifelong savings, received the highest honor of the National Recommendation Award, the 'Order of Civil Merit, Pomegranate Medal.' The late Lee Soon-nan, who contributed to nurturing talent by bequeathing her entire fortune to Seoul National University, and pharmacist Cho Geun-sik, who overcame physical disabilities to establish 20 schools in Laos, were awarded the National Medal of Honor.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety held the '14th National Recommendation Award Ceremony' on the 14th and presented awards to 20 recipients, including grandmother Han Jong-seop.
The 'National Recommendation Award' is a system where citizens recommend candidates, and after review by the Government Awards Deliberation Committee, awards are given. It holds great significance as an award 'directly chosen by the people.' Since its inception in 2011, the 14th edition of the National Recommendation Award rigorously selected recipients from 543 nominations submitted by the public over the past year through document review, field investigations, and committee evaluations.
Grandmother Han Jong-seop, who operated a silk factory and donated her lifetime savings and house, received the highest honor of the National Recommendation Award, the "Order of Civil Merit, Pomegranate Medal," on the 14th. Photo by Ministry of the Interior and Safety
Grandmother Han Jong-seop, who received the Order of Civil Merit, Pomegranate Medal, donated 1 billion KRW of her savings accumulated from operating a silk factory to the Korea University Medical Development Fund and pledged to donate her residence after her passing. Han Jong-seop expressed her award acceptance by saying, "I hope patients enter the hospital, receive good treatment, recover quickly, and are discharged."
The National Medal of Honor was awarded to the late Lee Soon-nan, Honorary Chairman Lee Jae-ho, pharmacist Cho Geun-sik, former public official Yoon Young-geun, and businessman Cho Sung-joon. The late Lee Soon-nan contributed to nurturing future talent by bequeathing 800 million KRW saved through frugality to Seoul National University. Honorary Chairman Lee Jae-ho established the Wolgok Jewelry Industry Promotion Foundation, promoted various social contribution activities, and donated 1 billion KRW to the University of Seoul.
Pharmacist Cho Geun-sik overcame the challenges of physical disability and practiced sharing beyond borders by establishing 20 schools in Laos over 10 years and providing scholarships. Former public official Yoon Young-geun continuously donated his talents and volunteered in various ways for 32 years despite his disability. Businessman Cho Sung-joon hired reserve officers and military families at his company and worked to boost troop morale and support families of soldiers who died or were injured during military service.
Five Presidential Citations were awarded. Barber Kim Kwang-joo was recognized for his warm influence on the local community by providing free haircuts to over 40,000 underprivileged people in the Haenam area for 58 years. Farmer couple Kwon Yong-ho and Kim Dong-jo, who pledged to donate 40 million KRW annually by pooling their efforts over five years and donated income from crop harvests, also received the Presidential Citation.
Eight Prime Minister’s Citations were awarded to individuals and organizations. Captain Moon Hee-seung of the Private Maritime Rescue Team was selected for the Prime Minister’s Citation in recognition of his contributions to maritime safety, including rescuing drowning victims from fishing boat and motorboat collisions. The group 'Lee Sang-hee & Friends,' which has donated proceeds from charity concerts for over 20 years to the International Vaccine Institute and the National Cancer Center, also received the Prime Minister’s Citation.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to widely publicize the achievements of the 14th National Recommendation Award recipients through various channels, including publishing a collection of inspiring life stories of the awardees.
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