Hanbok designer Park Sul-nyeo, who has helped popularize Hanbok overseas for about 40 years, is one of 12 people honored by the Korean Culture and Information Service for promoting Korean culture abroad. (Park Sulnyeo Hanbok)

By Kim Hwaya

Twelve people who have promoted Korean culture abroad and raised the country's international image have been honored by the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS).

KOCIS on Dec. 19 announced that the 12 included Hanbok (traditional Korean attire) designer Park Sul-nyeo and installation artist Kim Kira, who contributed to the building of the new Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Brazil.

Park was honored for helping popularize Hanbok for about 40 years. Since 2016, she has supplied Hanbok to foreigners at the cultural event "Hello Mr. K."

Kim, who received the Today’s Young Artist Prize from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2009, provided guidance and planning for the new KCC in Sao Paolo. He earned wide acclaim for helping build an efficient multipurpose place with traditional Korean images.

Also among the 12 honorees were choreographer Nam Young-ho, who suggested to the French city of Montpellier to host the Korean festival Coree d'ici and supported the event; Grace Koh, who teaches Korean literature at SOAS University of London and had Deborah Smith, the translator of Han Kang’s award-winning novel "The Vegetarian," as one of her students, and Georges Arsenijevic, who has worked at the KCC in Paris for about 33 years.

Other awardees were Kimpo University professor Park Jinyoung, who cooperates with KCCs to promote Korean culture abroad; Thierry Loreau, musical adviser to Belgium's public broadcaster RTBF; and Milena Greagor, who is on the board of directors of Arsenal Institute for Film and Video Art in Berlin.

Rounding out the list were Korean cuisine chef Yoo Eunha in Hong Kong; Chung Young-yang, director of the Chung Young Yang Embroidery Museum in Seoul; Kim Hye-young, a staff member at the KCC in Paris; and Geza Angyal, managing director of the construction company Dimensio Mernoki Iroda Kft in Budapest, Hungary.

KOCIS Director Kim Tae-hoon said, "Many people are working hard to promote the value of Korean culture in each field, so their roles are crucial," adding, "Going forward, we will search for more of these people, show our appreciation through awards and strengthen the (overseas) promotion of our culture."

fayastory@korea.kr