By Yi Whan-woo
Lee Hyuk, incoming secretary general of the ASEAN-Korea Centre in Seoul, received an honorary medal in Vietnam for his contributions to bolstering relations between Seoul and Hanoi, according to center officials, Friday.
It said Lee, who has served as Korea's ambassador to Vietnam since 2016, was presented with the Medal for Peace and Friendship among Nations by Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Vice President and Secretary General Don Tuan Phong.
Lee will replace Kim Young-sun and begin his term as the fourth secretary general of the ASEAN-Korea Centre on April 16.
“Vice President Phong underlined Ambassador Lee's efforts to gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam by paying visits to various places and interacting with people within the country, while showing active support to the activities of the VUFO, the Vietnam-Republic of Korea (ROK) Friendship Association and people-to-people exchanges,” the ASEAN-Korea Centre said. “Vice President Phong also expressed hope the ambassador will make continuous efforts to build stronger bilateral relations.”