SEOUL – In a notable ceremony on Wednesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea was presented with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award by Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Australia and daughter of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The award, which was announced five months prior by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, was officially handed over to President Yoon at the presidential office, marking a significant recognition of his efforts in international diplomacy.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ambassador Kennedy, serving as the honorary president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, awarded President Yoon with a sterling silver lantern, a symbol of hope modeled after the lantern on the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy. This award celebrates Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's contributions to enhancing South Korea-Japan bilateral relations, despite facing domestic opposition related to historical disputes.
Expressing his gratitude, President Yoon emphasized his commitment to furthering peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, leveraging the strengthened ties between South Korea and Japan, as well as the trilateral cooperation involving the United States. The award highlights the importance of courage in leadership, particularly in overcoming challenges for the sake of international harmony and progress.