Go to contents

Ambassador to Italy receives the first Premio Simpatia as a Korean

Ambassador to Italy receives the first Premio Simpatia as a Korean

Posted May. 25, 2016 07:37,   

Updated May. 25, 2016 07:43

한국어

South Korean Ambassador to Italy Lee Yong-joon (see photo) has received the “Premio Simpatia 2016" award from the Rome city government for his contributions to disseminating Korean culture in the European country.

 

The 60-year-old ambassador is the first Korean to receive the award at a prize ceremony at the city hall of Rome on Monday afternoon (local time). Since May last year, Lee has served the ambassador to Italy. He successfully operated the Korean Pavilion at the 2015 Milan Expo, and will open the Korean culture center in Rome event in October.

 

Other awardees included people who made outstanding achievements in 13 categories including Federico Zampaglione, vocalist of pop group Tiromancino, actress Asia Argento and film director Paolo Genovese.

 

The “Premio Simpata” award, which was created in 1967, is given to an Italian or a foreigner who makes an outstanding achievement in culture, diplomacy, performing art and research. The awardees include actress Sophia Loren, movie director Federico Fellini and architect Renzo Piano.

“It is a great honor for me to receive the award that many celebrities of Italy received as a person representing Korea,“ Ambassador Lee said in the award ceremony. “I’ll do my best to plant Korean culture in Italy.”



파리=전승훈특파원 raphy@donga.com