The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games Organizing Committee has been selected the winner of the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award for enhancing South Korea’s image overseas, the Corea Image Communication Institute announced Monday.

Cho Yang-ho, chairman of the bid committee, will receive the prize during a ceremony on Jan. 17 at Grand Intercontinental Hotel’s Grand Ballroom in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. Willy Bogner, former chairman of the 2018 Munich Winter Olympics Bid Committee, will send a video message to congratulate the committee.

CICI has been hosting the annual CICI Korea awards since 2005 to honor people, objects, events and organizations dedicated to promoting the nation. 

Popular animation character Pororo, which has been exported to 120 countries, was chosen as the winner of the Korea Image Budding Youth Award. CICI thought highly of how the animation introduced Korea’s creativity abroad and pioneered a way for the Korean cultural industry to advance overseas.

The Korea Image Millstone Award will be given to Lee Jasmine, a Filipino actress who took the role as the main character’s mother in the movie “Punch (Wandeukyi).” The newly created prize aims to honor those who integrate well into the country just as grains mix well through a millstone.

“The Korea Image Stepping Stone Bridge award is given to foreigners who live outside of Korea and introduce Korea overseas. We thought that now is the time to also honor foreigners who are living in Korea and putting in efforts to promote Korea. Lee has been doing many volunteer and charity works for foreign immigrants living here,” said Choi Jung-hwa, president of the institute.

The award ceremony will be held as part of the CICI Korea 2012 event. The event will introduce hidden gem spots all over the world like Suncheon Bay in South Jeolla Province and ecological sites in Brazil, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Rio Summit.

By Park Min-young (claire@heraldcorp.com)