Three South Koreans awarded Italian Order of Merit

By Kim Young-gyo
SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- Three South Koreans on Friday received the Italian Order of Merit, which recognizes individual contributions to Italian culture and society.
Italian Ambassador to South Korea Massimo Andrea Leggeri awarded Ambassador Dho
Young-shim the decoration of Commandeur of the Order of the Merit of the Italian
Republic.
Dho, a former South Korean lawmaker, was recognized for her activities as
chairperson of the United Nations World Tourism Organization's Sustainable
Tourism - Poverty Elimination (ST-EP) Foundation,
Yoon Yoon-soo, chairman of Fila Korea Ltd., was awarded the decoration of
Chevalier of the Order of the Merit of the Italian Republic. Yoon was also the
first president of Korea-Italy Business Association from 1999 to 2001.
The Italian ambassador awarded architect Kim Seok-chul the decoration of the
Commandeur of the Order of the Star of the Italian Solidarity, which recognizes
the achievements of those Italians and foreigners who played a distinguished role
in the reconstruction of Italy.
Kim's major contribution to Italy was the establishment of the South Korean
Pavilion for the Venice Biennale, one of the permanent buildings in the Biennale
Gardens.
Award recipients are divided into five categories for contributions in the fields
of literature, the economy, public service, and social, philanthropic and
humanitarian activities.
The award ceremony took place at the biannual Korea-Italy Forum held on Friday in
southern Seoul. The forum was the third of its kind and aims at expanding
bilateral cooperation and deepening relations between the two countries.
The Korea-Italy Forum was inaugurated in Rome in June 2004 to commemorate the
120th anniversary of bilateral relations.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
(END)