By Yun Suh-young
A well-known Korean catholic priest who died last year after 8 years of volunteer work in Sudan will receive an award recommended by the public.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security announced Tuesday the list of 24 citizens who will receive citizen-recommendation awards in mid-July.
The awards are given to people who contributed to society through volunteer work, donations, and good deeds against all odds. Incepted in February, they are aimed at allowing ordinary citizens to choose and award for their own heroes.
The late Father John Lee Taeseok will receive the highest medal of the Mugunghwa Order.
Lee became well known to the public after the documentary “Don’t Cry for Me Sudan” about his dedication to Sudanese people was released last September.
Lee died of cancer in January 2010 at the age of 49.
Among other winners of the citizen-selected awards is Hwang Geum-ja (87), a victim of sexual labor under the Japanese military, who donated 100 million to a scholarship committee.
Kim Yong-chul (89) has also been honored in recognition of his donation of his entire wealth worth 8.5 billion won to the Ministry of National Defense after the North Korean attack on the warship Cheonan.
The ministry announced the winners after screening the 361 registered candidates. The award ceremony will take place next month.