Global Korea Awards

The Global Korea Awards recognizes individuals or groups who have made significant contribution to cross-cultural understanding, global education, and well-being of Korean people around the world.

The Global Korea Awards was created by the Council on Korean Studies at Michigan State University in 1995 to recognize individuals or groups who have made significant contribution of cross-cultural understanding, global education, and well-being of Korean people around the world.  The annual Global Korea Award ceremony takes place at MSU every October.

THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD INCLUDE:

• Demonstrated commitment and unselfish devotion to the well-beings of Korean community and global society

• Significant contribution to the improvement of understanding between Korea and people around the world

• Exceptional devotion to quality education for young generation in Korea and the world

• Outstanding achievement in scholarly and creative work that advances global understanding of Korea in the global community

2024

• Donald N. Clark, Ph.D.  Murchison Professor of History Emeritus and former Director of East Asian Studies at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas

• Suzie Oh, Ed. D. Principal at Third Street School in the Los Angeles School District (retired)

2023

• Jennie Jin, Ph.D. Supervisory Forensic Anthropologist, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)

• Lucy Park, MD, Co-founder, Sejong Cultural Society

2022

• Jin Young Park, MD, Ph.D. General Surgeon, Director of New Village Hospital, Karen State, Burma

• Special Recognition: Korean Connection, a non-profit organization committed to Korean outreach in Grand Rapids, Michigan

2021

• Jungsoo George Choe, President & CEO, Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, Philadelphia, PA, USA

2019

• Sahie Kang, Ph.D., Director of School of Korean, Middlebury College, USA

• Jacqueline Pak, Ph.D., Former Professor of Korean History at Cornell University, USA

2018

• Joon Oh, Former Ambassador of Korea to the United Nations, Korea

• The late Hallie Covington, Missionary for Korea, USA

2017

• Sung Soon Kim, President of National Korean Studies Seminar, USA

• The 68th AAA Gun Battalion/508th Ops Detachment, Korean War Veterans Group, USA

2016

• Seong Chi, M.D., Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgeon M.D., Michigan, USA

• Robert Turley, President and Founder of the Korean Art Society, New York, USA

2015

• Pyong Gap Min, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor; Director, The Research Center for Korean Community, Queens College, USA

2014

• Robert M. Oppenheim, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Asian Studies, University of Texas at Austin, USA

• Dong Jin Kim, Chairman, The Hulbert Memorial Society, Korea

• Daewook Hong, Orthotist & Founder, New Hope Rehabilitation Foundation, USA

2013

• Boo Kyum Kim, Former National Assemblyman, Korea

• Dai Sil Kim-Gibson, Ph.D., Writer & Filmmaker, USA

2012

• Mary Connor, President, the Korea Academy for Educators, USA

• Dong-Hae Kim, M.D., Medical Director, Vision Care Service, Korea

• Special Tributes: Eunil Lee, Ph.D., Poet, USA

2011

• Bruce Fulton, Ph.D. & Ju-Chan Fulton, The Inaugural Holder of Young-Bin Min Chair, University of British Columbia; Author, USA

• Djun Kil Kim, Professorial Chair, University of Asia & the Pacific, Philippines

2010

• Mark A. Peterson, Ph.D., Professor, Brigham Young University, USA

• Jong S. Kweon, Director, A Cup of Water International, USA

• Special Tributes: Eyun-Kee Lee, Novelist, Korea            

2009

• Marn J. Cha, Ph.D., Professor, California State University, Fresno, USA

• Chung Youn Kim, Medical Missionary for Uganda, Korea

• Harry Kim, Former Mayor of Hilo, Hawaii, USA

2008

• Heinz Insu Fenkl, Professor, State University of New York, New Paltz, USA

• Suk-Hi Kim, Ph.D., Professor, University of Detroit Mercy, USA

• Samuel D. Yoo, M.D., Medical Missionary for Uganda, Korea

2007

• Yoon Joo Lee, Ph.D., Economist/CTO, United States Agency for International Development, USA

• David McCann, Ph.D., Professor, Harvard University, USA

• Anne Sibley O’Brien, Writer/Publisher, USA

2006

• Hoon-Yung Hopgood, State Representative of Michigan, USA

• Tariq Hussain, Country Representative, Maxmakers, Korea

• Jong Nam Oh, Ph.D., Executive Director, International Monetary Fund, Korea

2005

• Dean L. Hubbard, Ph.D., President, Northwest Missouri State University, USA

• Young Whan Kihl, Ph.D., Professor, Iowa State University, USA

• Martha Vickery, for Korean Quarterly, State of Minnesota, USA

• Special Tributes: Joo Won Seo, Former Secretary General, Korean Federation for Environmental Movement

2004 

• John Conyers Jr., Congressman, the House of Representatives, USA

• Chang Soo Huh, Chairman, GS Holdings, Korea

• Young Woo Kang, Ph.D., Presidential Appointee by U.S. Senate, USA

• Mikhail N. Pak, Ph. D., Professor, Moscow State University, Russia

• Don Hee Lee, for Korean Minjok Leadership Academy, Korea

• Special Tributes

• Joon S. Moon, Ph.D., Charman, Mt. Rose Capital, USA

• The late Sang-Yong Nam, Ph.D., President of Supporting Committee for Center for Korean Studies at the University of Michigan, USA

• Chul Young Kim, Ph.D., President, Michigan State University Alumni Association, Korea

• Tai Sung Kim, Ph.D., Professor, Lansing Community College, USA

• John Ruselowski, Chairman, Korean War Veterans Committee, Michigan, USA

2003 

• Kyungshik Kang, Ph.D., Professor, Brown University, USA

• Young-Key Kim-Renaud, Ph.D., Professor, George Washington University, USA

• Bertrand M. Renaud, Ph.D., Consultant, World Bank, USA

• Suk Ku Song, Ph. D., Emeritus Professor, Dongguk University, Korea

• Nels Running, Major General, for 50th Anniversary of Korean War Commemoration Committee, USA       

• Myung Ja Kim, Ph. D., Distinguished Professor, Myongji University, Korea

• Special Tributes

• Sandy Holy, Former Assistant Director of Visiting International Professional Program, Michigan State University, USA

• Sang Woong Lee, Branch Manager of Dong-A USA, Michigan, USA

2002 

• Katharine H.S. Moon, Ph.D., Jane Bishop Associate Professor, USA

• Kook Hyun Moon, Wellesley College President and Chief Executive Officer, Yuhan-Kimberly, USA

• Yoon-Soo Park, Ph.D., Chairman of National Board of Directors, Korean American Scholarship Foundation, USA

• Ung Soo Kim, Ph.D., Chairman of Board of Directors, The International Council on Korean Studies (ICKS), USA

• Jurgen Kleiner, J.D., Career Diplomat, German Foreign Service, Germany

• Special Tributes

• Sung Woo Lee, Former President of Lee Mart Inc., USA

• Dennis H. Marvin, Regional Economic Development director, the Economic Development of CMS Energy, USA

• Kyu-Taik Sung, Ph.D., Endowed Chair Professor, University of Southern California, USA

2001

• Chong Kuk Son, Ph.D., Chancellor, Kyonggi University, Korea

• Woon-Hyung Lee, Chairperson, SeAh Group, Korea

• The Nautilus Institute, Peter Hayes, Ph.D., Executive Director; Tim Savage, Senior Security Program Officer, Berkeley, California, USA

• Special Tributes

• Charles W. Greenleaf, Vice President for University Projects, Michigan State University, USA

• Woo Yeol Kim, Korea House, East Lansing, Michigan, USA

2000

• Susan Sungsoo Cho, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist & Manager, Nutrition Research Programs, Kellogg Company, USA

• Ilpyong J. Kim, Professor Emeritus, University of Connecticut; President of International Council on Korean Studies, (ICKS), USA

• Jong Moon Lee, Chairperson & CEO, Ambex Venture Group, USA

• Jeffrey Jones, President, American Chamber of Commerce, Korea

• Special Tributes: Brett Song, Former Vice President, Michigan Alumni Association in Korea (MAAK), Korea

1999

• Sister Agnes Park, Director, Joseph Shelter, Ulsan, Korea

• E. Han Kim, Ph.D., Fred M. Taylor Professor, University of Michigan, USA

• Special Tributes: Sung Hai Chi, Medical Doctor, Holt, Michigan, USA

1998

• Chungwon Choue, Ph.D., President, Kyunghee University, Korea

• Moo-Yong Han, Ph.D., Department of Physics, Duke University, USA

• Elaine Kim, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Ethnics Studies, University of California, Berkeley, USA

• Special Tributes:  The Late Vincent Hoffman, Professor of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, US

1997 

• Byung Young Ahn, Ph.D., Minister of Education, Korea

• Alice Amsden, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

• Sang Hoon Bang, President, Chosun Ilbo, Korea

• Honorable Donald Gregg, Honorable President, The Korea Society, USA

• Chong-Ryang Kim, President, Hanyang University, Korea

• Chinan-Murphy Schools, Chinan Elementary School, Chinan, Korea; Murphy Elementary School, Haslett, Michigan, USA

• Mirae Foundation, Chicago, USA

• Special Tributes

  • Michael Miller, Former Director, Visiting International Professional Program, Michigan State University, USA

1996

• Bong Hak Hyun, M.D., Professor, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, USA

• Stephen S. Kahng, President & CEO, Power Computing, USA

• James J. Kim, Ph.D., Chairperson, ANAM Industrial Co., Ltd, USA

• Steve Linton, Ph.D., Chairperson, The Eugene Bell Centennial Foundation, USA

• Myong Oh, Ph.D., Former President, Dong-A Il-Bo, Korea

• Wong-Bong Sul, Chairperson & CEO, TS Corporation, Korea

• Moon J. Park, M.D., Ph.D., President, The Christian Association for Medical Mission, USA

• Cindy Silvil, Representative, for Korea Culture Camp of Eastern Michigan, USA

1995

• Edward Baker, J.D., Associate Director, Harvard Yenching Institute, USA

• Edward Chang, President, Committee for SAT to Korean, USA

• Elliot Kang, President & CEO, Kang and Lee Advertising, USA

• Mr. and Mrs. Chong H. Lee; Mr. and Mrs. Hyu Young Moon, Advisors, Korean-American Student Conference, USA

• Kwang Dong Cho, Editor, for the We Magazine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

• Special Tributes: Sang Won Lee, Entrepreneur, Lansing, Michigan, USA