President Lee Awards Medals to 'Faker' Lee Sang-hyuk and Director Shin Wooseok: "National Representatives Who Elevated Korea's Stature"

President Lee Jae-myung Attends New Year's Reception on January 2
Faker, Record League of Legends Champion, Receives Cheongryong Medal
Shin Wooseok Awarded Magnolia Medal for APEC Promotional Video
Honors Also Given to Policy Innovators and Lifesavers
AI Robot Riku Delivers Noteworthy New Year's Greeting

President Lee Jae-myung is applauding after awarding professional gamer 'Faker' Lee Sang-hyuk at the New Year's greeting event held at the Blue House's State Guest House on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

On January 2, President Lee Jae-myung awarded medals to national representatives, including professional gamer 'Faker' Lee Sang-hyuk and Shin Wooseok, director of the video production company Dolphin Kidnapping Gang, at the New Year's Reception.

President Lee, accompanied by First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, attended the New Year's Reception held at the Blue House State Guest House under the theme "Beyond Recovery, Toward a Great Leap Forward." President Lee wore a tie with a blend of red and blue, while the First Lady was dressed in a jade-colored skirt and a white jeogori.

The New Year's Reception was attended by presidential aides, the heads of the five branches of government including National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, officials from the government and political parties, as well as representatives from various sectors of the public.

President Lee awarded the Cheongryong Medal, the Order of Sports Merit, to Lee Sang-hyuk, one of the national representatives. In November, Lee Sang-hyuk won his sixth career championship at the League of Legends World Championship, setting the record for the most championships in the tournament's history.

President Lee Jae-myung is awarding the Magnolia Order of Civil Merit to director Shin Woo-seok of the Dolphin Kidnapping Gang and taking a commemorative photo at the New Year's Reception held at the Blue House State Guest House on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

Shin Wooseok, director of Dolphin Kidnapping Gang, who produced the promotional video for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, received the Magnolia Order of Civil Merit from President Lee. Director Shin drew significant attention at the time by featuring President Lee in a surprise cameo as an aircraft marshaller.

The Moran Medal of the Order of Civil Merit was awarded posthumously to the late Bishop Dubon, former head of the Catholic Diocese of Andong, who immigrated to Korea during the Korean War and dedicated 71 years to farmers' and labor movements. Kim Donghae, founder of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, received the Pomegranate Medal of the Order of Civil Merit. Lee Jongmin, Chief Director of Ewha Hospital, who has provided free medical care and tuition support to migrant women in Korea for 40 years, was presented with the Order of Civil Merit Medal.

Current public officials also received honors. Kim Euijung, an official at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy who proposed the MASGA project, was awarded the Order of Service Merit. Kim Hyunmok, an official at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism who planned new K-pop business initiatives, received the Presidential Citation. In addition, individuals who contributed to protecting the lives and property of citizens in wildfire and disaster situations were also recognized.

President Lee said, "I am truly grateful and delighted to be able to share this moment with all of you who play a central role in our Republic of Korea in your respective positions. Meeting national representatives who have elevated Korea's stature and sharing the heartfelt voices and aspirations of our people make this occasion even more meaningful."

President Lee Jae-myung is watching AI robot Riku's New Year's greeting at the New Year's meeting held at the Blue House State Guest House on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, before the award ceremony, the AI social robot 'Riku' made a surprise appearance on stage and delivered a greeting. Riku is an AI robot developed by the Korean company Toruk, equipped with facial recognition, emotional conversation, and autonomous behavior functions.

Riku said, "It is an honor to be here at such a meaningful event, thanks to President Lee Jae-myung, who declared 2026 as the first year of the AI era. I hope this year will see even faster advances in science, technology, and AI, and above all, that people and people, as well as people and technology, will become even more deeply connected."