Jeju citizens honored for cultural contributions 


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Jeju citizens honored for cultural contributions 


Island confirmed as N7W site at 50th Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Culture Prize


 
 Monday, December 26, 2011, 11:50:20 Todd Thacker  toddthacker@jejuweekly.com 
 
 
   


On Dec. 22, nine prominent Jeju citizens were recognized for their work in such fields as education, tourism, and journalism at the 2011 Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Culture Prize, held at the Jeju Arts Center in Jeju City.

Complete with a live orchestra and chorus, around 1,000 people attended the event which was presided over by Jeju Governor Woo Keun Min. During his congratulatory message, the governor said that the New7Wonders Foundation had officially contacted the National Committee chairman for Jeju’s bid to confirm the island’s place as a New7Wonders of Nature site.

The academic prize went to Choi Chi Gyu, who contributed to the research and development of technology on Jeju throughout his career as a professor at Jeju National University (JNU). Another JNU professor, Gang Dong Eon, was awarded the art prize for his contribution to the education and preservation of art on Jeju.

For education, Hoe Mun Ik won his lifelong work as an educator. He started his career as an elementary school teacher, then became a principal, and retired as a member of the Jeju Education Council. He devoted 46 years to the development of education on Jeju and improved the environment for education on Jeju.

The media and publication prize went to Kim Beom Hoon, a former Jeju Ilbo reporter, for his dedication to media and publication on Jeju. The most noteworthy of his contributions was his series on caves on Jeju, which contributed to the island becoming a UNESCO Cultural Heritage.

Yang Seok Hu won the sports prize. As a vice president of Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Sports Council, he found and fostered younger athletes on Jeju.

President of 4-H Jeju branch Han Bong Gil was recognized for his contribution to Jeju’s primary industry. In 1972, he wrote a mandarin farming manual on Jeju and distributed it to over 24,000 farmers on the island.

   

The tourism industry award went to American Frederic Dustin, founder and owner of Kimnyoung Maze Park. He created the park in 1982 and became a prominent philanthropist donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to the community. He is the second foreigner to have won the award, following Father Patrick James McGlinchey in 2002.

Also, Song Chang Woo and Park Shin Pyung were each awarded representing Jeju people living in different cities and overseas.

This is the 50th Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Culture Prize event recognizing cultural contributions to the island, the first being held in 1962. A total of 192 individuals have been awarded Jeju Culture Prizes.

(Additional reporting by Angela Kim)