Seoul: Choi Jung-wha, professor emeritus at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) and president of the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), has become the first Korean woman to be awarded the Officier grade of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest order of merit.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi received the prestigious award at the French ambassador’s residence in Seoul. The recognition was given in acknowledgment of her significant contributions to promoting relations and cultural exchanges between South Korea and France.
The Legion of Honor, established in 1802, is the highest national order of merit in France, recognizing individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the country. The order is categorized into five grades: Chevalier, Officier, Commandeur, Grand Officier, and Grand-Croix, in ascending order of rank. Notably, Choi was previously awarded the Chevalier grade in 2003.
In addition to Choi, notable figures such as American director James Cameron and Irish politician Simon Coveney were also recipients of the same honor.
Choi’s journey began after graduating from HUFS with a major in French. She pursued further studies at the Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation (ESIT) at Paris III University, where she became the first Korean to qualify as an international interpreter. She later earned her doctorate from the ESIT.
After returning to Korea in 1987, Choi served as a professor at the Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation at HUFS. Her career is marked by her role as an interpreter at key government functions and Korea-France summits and her active engagement in promoting cultural exchanges between the two nations. She co-founded the international academic journal Forum and served as editor-in-chief of the French edition of Koreana, a magazine by the Korea Foundation.
Choi has also been instrumental in organizing the Korea Image Awards ceremony and Cultural Communication Forum since founding CICI in 2003. As a founding member of the Hanbul (Korea-France) Club in 2015, she now serves as its secretary-general.
Upon receiving the honor, Choi expressed it as “an encouragement to continue on the path of strengthening ties between the two countries,” adding, “With a sincere heart, I will build bridges connecting people to people and culture to culture.”