By Dong Sun-hwa
The director of dystopian drama "Squid Game," global streaming platform Netflix, archer Kim Je-deok and soprano Jo Su-mi are this year's winners of the Korea Image Awards, hosted by culture promotion advocacy group, the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI).
The awards ceremony is scheduled to be held at the InterContinental Seoul COEX in southern Seoul, Jan 12. Policymakers, diplomats and opinion leaders, including Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong-moon, CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, French Ambassador Philippe Lefort, Russian Ambassador Andrey Kulik, German Ambassador Michael Reiffenstuel, Singaporean Ambassador Eric Teo and Israeli Ambassador Akiva Tor, will attend the event.
The CICI announced Monday that Hwang Dong-hyuk, one of the creative minds behind Netflix's latest hit, "Squid Game," will receive the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award. The award is presented to Koreans who have helped spread a positive image of the country.
"Hwang will be honored for disseminating Korean culture by giving birth to a global sensation like Squid Game," the CICI explained. According to Netflix, more than 142 million households worldwide have seen the series.
The Korea Image Stepping Stone Bridge Award ― which recognizes those who have been a bridge between Korea and the world ― will go to Netflix.
"Netflix not only contributed to the creation of popular Korean content like 'Squid Game,' but also provided support to Korean producers, helping them further spread Korean culture," the CICI said.
Archer Kim Je-deok is the winner of the Korea Image Budding Youth Award, an award for young people who have enhanced Korea's national image. The 17-year old clinched two gold medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
"Kim impressed people with his athletic prowess and strong willpower during the Olympics," the CICI commented. "He also is the youngest person to win an Olympic gold medal in the Korean archery team's history."
Soprano Jo Su-mi, the first Korean artist to win a Grammy award in 1992 for her performance on the album, "R. Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten," will get the Korea Image Cornerstone Award for her continuous contribution to Korean culture.
"Jo has been commanding the world stage with her gifted voice for 35 years," the CICI said. "She is a pillar of hope for Korean culture."
The winners of last year's Korea Image Awards ― first launched in 2005 ― were six top singers from TV Chosun's competition show, "Mr. Trot," Generation Equality Forum Secretary General Delphine O and children's entertainment sensation "Baby Shark."
 |
| Hwang Dong-hyuk, the director of "Squid Game" / Courtesy of Netflix |
The awards ceremony is scheduled to be held at the InterContinental Seoul COEX in southern Seoul, Jan 12. Policymakers, diplomats and opinion leaders, including Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong-moon, CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, French Ambassador Philippe Lefort, Russian Ambassador Andrey Kulik, German Ambassador Michael Reiffenstuel, Singaporean Ambassador Eric Teo and Israeli Ambassador Akiva Tor, will attend the event.
The CICI announced Monday that Hwang Dong-hyuk, one of the creative minds behind Netflix's latest hit, "Squid Game," will receive the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award. The award is presented to Koreans who have helped spread a positive image of the country.
 |
| Archer Kim Je-deok / Courtesy of Korea Archery Association |
The Korea Image Stepping Stone Bridge Award ― which recognizes those who have been a bridge between Korea and the world ― will go to Netflix.
"Netflix not only contributed to the creation of popular Korean content like 'Squid Game,' but also provided support to Korean producers, helping them further spread Korean culture," the CICI said.
Archer Kim Je-deok is the winner of the Korea Image Budding Youth Award, an award for young people who have enhanced Korea's national image. The 17-year old clinched two gold medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
"Kim impressed people with his athletic prowess and strong willpower during the Olympics," the CICI commented. "He also is the youngest person to win an Olympic gold medal in the Korean archery team's history."
 |
| Soprano Jo Su-mi / Courtesy of CICI |
Soprano Jo Su-mi, the first Korean artist to win a Grammy award in 1992 for her performance on the album, "R. Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten," will get the Korea Image Cornerstone Award for her continuous contribution to Korean culture.
"Jo has been commanding the world stage with her gifted voice for 35 years," the CICI said. "She is a pillar of hope for Korean culture."
The winners of last year's Korea Image Awards ― first launched in 2005 ― were six top singers from TV Chosun's competition show, "Mr. Trot," Generation Equality Forum Secretary General Delphine O and children's entertainment sensation "Baby Shark."
![[REVIEW] 'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/e385d0918b054c1286a1cfaa3142439e.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] 'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/796618f56a44402eabe81fe4530ab988.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
