Merkel wins Seoul Peace Prize

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

The Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation named German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the 12th winner of the Seoul Peace Prize, Wednesday.

Lee Chul-seung, the foundation chairman, said the decision was made in recognition of her dedication to world peace with her continuously sincere attitude toward the matter. She drew attention by apologizing for Germany’s past atrocities during World War II.

“Also, the 60-year-old German chancellor proved her leadership when the global financial crisis struck Europe in 2008. She played a central role in strengthening transatlantic economic ties by signing a partnership agreement with U.S. saving bonds from the Eurozone,” Lee said via a press release.

Her effort was rewarded even in Israel when Merkel visited the country March 16, 2008, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish state. Merkel was greeted at the airport by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, an honor guard and many of the country's political and religious leaders, including most of the Israeli Cabinet.

Lee announced the decision at the Press Center, Seoul and revealed the laureate went through a strict evaluation by the fourteen prize selection committee members. They included the presidents of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Arts, the Korea News Editors' Association, and the Korea Olympic Committee, as ex officio members.

Angela Merkel was appointed Germany’s first female Chancellor after the 2005 federal election. She is also the first German Chancellor to be born after World War II.

The Seoul Peace Prize was established in 1990 to commemorate the success of the 24th Olympic Games held in Seoul, Korea. Its establishment was to reflect the wishes of the people for peace. The prize has been given to 11 laureates so far including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the founder and managing director of the Grameen Bank Muhammad Yunus, and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

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