2020 Korea Image Awards go to SKT, pop columnist and jazz singer

The winners of the 2020 Korea Image Awards have been announced. Gettyimagesbank

By Jung Min-ho

Park Jung-ho.

Korea's No. 1 mobile carrier SK Telecom, Billboard columnist Jeff Benjamin and jazz singer Na Yoon-sun are the 2020 Korea Image Awards winners.

The Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), which has hosted the annual event since 2005, announced Monday that the awards will be given to SKT, Benjamin and Na for their efforts to improve the national image.

The award ceremony will be held at the InterContinental Seoul Coex in southern Seoul on Jan. 14.

Jeff Benjamin

“SKT played a vital role in helping Korea launch the world's first fifth-generation services and improving the national image through innovations in artificial intelligence, commerce, media and many other areas,” the CICI said in a statement.

On behalf of all SKT employees, CEO Park Jung-ho will attend the event to receive the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award.

Benjamin, a New York-based journalist specializing in K-pop, has covered BTS, PYS and other Korean singers for Billboard since 2013.

Na Yoon-sun

“Benjamin did a great job of promoting K-pop overseas, being a bridge between Korea and the world,” the CICI said.

He will receive the Korea Image Stepping Stone Bridge Award, previously given to the hosts of the popular YouTube channel “Korean Englishman,” Josh Carrott and Ollie Kendal.

Na, one of the most famous, if not the most famous, Korean jazz singer in Europe and beyond, will receive the Korea Image Fire Stone Award.