Choi Jung-wha awarded French Legion of Honour Officier medal

Choi Jung-wha, right, founder and president of the Corea Image Communication Institute, receives the Legion of Honour at the rank of Officier from French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux at the ambassador's residence in central Seoul, Thursday. She is the first Korean woman to be awarded the Officier class of the French medal. Courtesy of Choi Jung-wha

Choi Jung-wha, chairperson of the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) and honorary professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, became the first Korean woman to be awarded the Legion of Honour at the rank of Officier by the French government.

Ambassador of France to Korea Philippe Bertoux presented the honor on behalf of the French president in a ceremony Thursday at the ambassador’s residence in central Seoul.

Choi was previously awarded the Chevalier grade of the same order in 2003, also marking a first for a Korean woman, and her elevation to Officier recognizes her decades-long contributions to strengthening Korea-France relations and promoting cultural exchanges.

A lifelong advocate for cultural diplomacy, Choi has been widely recognized for her work in promoting Korean culture overseas and fostering global dialogue.

During the ceremony, French Ambassador Bertoux praised Choi as a rare and charismatic figure who continuously inspired admiration through her energy, warmth and commitment to cultural diplomacy.

"Choi's devotion to France began with her love for the French language and culture. As an interpreter, a professor and a communicator, she placed herself at the heart of countless francophone and francophile activities from all walks of life: educational, through the university; media-related, through your YouTube channel; economic, through the Korea-France Club where you have served as secretary general since its founding nearly 10 years ago; and cultural, through the influential Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI)," Bertoux said.

Ambassador also noted the symbolism of the date. Choi received her Chevalier medal on June 4, 2003 — the same day, in 1886, that Korea and France signed their Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation. Her elevation to Officier on Thursday coincides with Teachers' Day in Korea, underscoring her enduring effort in education.

Choi Jung-wha, founder and president of the Corea Image Communication Institute, delivers an acceptance speech after being awarded the Legion of Honour at the rank of Officier at the French Ambassador's residence in central Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Choi Jung-wha

In her acceptance speech, reflecting on her life’s path, Choi mentioned the three pillars that led her to this moment: education, the CICI and the Korea-France Club.

"From the day I founded CICI in 2003, I have been guided by a belief that culture can bring people together and make diplomacy personal,” she said. “Without your support, CICI could not be what it is today.”

Recalling her experience interpreting during former French President Francois Mitterrand’s state visit to Korea, Choi described French as her “universe” — a language that helped her discover not only a career but a lifelong purpose.

“It is not the destination, but the journey that matters. And through this journey, I have found meaning and purpose through cultural exchange," she said.

In 1992, she was awarded the French Order of Academic Palms for her contributions to education and in 2000, she became the first Asian recipient of the Danica Seleskovitch Prize, an international award in the field of translation and interpretation.

Most notably, she founded CICI in 2003 to enhance Korea’s national image abroad. Through its annual Korea Image Awards, as well as various initiatives such as the Culture Communication Forum and Korea CQ, CICI has recognized and collaborated with renowned figures in the arts, diplomacy and entertainment. Past recipients of the awards include former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, conductor Chung Myung-whun, pianist Cho Seong-jin, soprano Sumi Jo and platforms like YouTube and Netflix.

She also became a YouTuber in recent years, producing content that introduces Korean and French culture to a broader audience. Her videos feature explorations of French regions such as Giverny and the Loire Valley, as well as interviews with French intellectuals and artists.

Choi also authored over 30 books, including “K-Style,” “This is Korea” and several French-language titles such as “Parlons coreen” (Let’s Speak Korean) and “Une grenouille dans son puits” (A frog in its well).

Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion of Honour is France’s highest decoration and is bestowed upon individuals, regardless of nationality, who have made contributions in fields such as politics, economics, arts, academia and diplomacy.