Ex-US envoy, French scholar wins Sejong Munhwa award

Kathleen Stephens

Marc Orange

By Kwon Ji-youn

Kathleen Stephens, former U.S. ambassador to Korea, and Marc Orange, former president of College de France, Institut d’Etudes Coreennes (Institute of Korean Studies), were selected as winners of Sejong Munhwa awards, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Thursday.

Stephens was nominated as a recipient in the culture category for her contribution to the Korea-U.S. relationship and her efforts to understand Korean culture.

She served as the U.S. ambassador here from 2008 to 2011. Born in Texas, she studied East Asian studies

at Prescott College, and received her master’s degree from Harvard University.

She was given a Korean name, Shim Eun-gyeong, when she volunteered in the Peace Corps at Yesan Middle School, South Chungcheong Province, in 1975.

Her career is marked with significant foreign experience, including having worked in China, Ireland and Portugal, but she is more widely acknowledged for her familiarity with Korean traditions as well as her fluency in the Korean language.

Orange was named a recipient in the scholar category in recognition of his contribution to Korean studies at College de France, a leading higher education and research establishment in France.

Before retirement, Orange delivered lectures and dissertations about Korea, adding to the expansion of Korean studies throughout France. He continues to do so.

Sookmyung Women’s University professor Park In-ja, 61, was nominated for her contribution to Korean arts.

She is noted for popularizing ballet by arranging the 2013 Ballet with Commentary, and cultivating new talented artists while she served as chairwoman of the board at the Dancers Career Development Center.

Actor Cha In-pyo, 47, and his wife Shin Ae-ra, 45, were recognized for their sponsorship and support of 52 neglected foreign children.

The couple is well-known for their generous contributions to society, including their fight against child abuse and donations for underfed children. They have made donations, particularly to underprivileged children in North Korea.

For the award for cultural diversity, the Daum Foundation was nominated. Founded in 2001, the foundation is recognized for its development of a program that provides the public with children’s stories from foreign countries that are difficult to purchase in Korea.

The Sejong Munhwa awards are granted to individuals or groups that have promoted national culture. It was established in 1982.

The 32nd Sejong Munhwa awards ceremony will be held on May 13 at the National Gugak Center, Seoul. For the first time, the occasion will also provide events, including chances to visit cultural facilities, from May 11 to 15.