Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, has received an honorary Korean name and an honorary Taekwondo black belt from a South Korea-US alliance group, officials said Monday.
Members of the Korea-US Alliance Foundation presented the name Seo Hae-seong and the honorary 7th degree black belt to the admiral during their visit to the command in Hawaii on Friday, the group said.
According to the foundation, the name signifies becoming a person as vast as the sea and bright as a star, expressing hopes that Paparo will become an admiral who leads troops to victory in the vast Indo-Pacific.
Paparo said he was honored to receive the name and the belt and reaffirmed that the South Korea-US alliance is stronger than ever, it said.
The foundation has gifted Korean names to top US military officials as a token of appreciation for their service. (Yonhap)
