Former Assembly Speaker Lee to win ‘Proud Korean Award’

Former National Assembly Speaker Lee Man-seop and Philip Kim, a professor of physics at Columbia University, will win the Proud Korean Award from the Korean American Leadership Foundation in Los Angeles

Lee and Kim each will receive $10,000 in prize money with a plaque. The award ceremony will take place at the Marriott Hotel, Los Angeles on Aug. 7. 

The L.A.-based foundation, chaired by President Hong Myung-ki, announced the winners of the sixth annual awards Wednesday. The accolade is given in recognition of contributions to the enhancement of the international image of Korea.

Lee was cited as a 79-year-old former lawmaker elected eight times to the parliament who set an example as a politician of integrity and principle.

Kim, 44, was recognized for his achievement in the research of graphene, a next-generation semiconductor.

The foundation will announce a third recipient soon.

The Proud Korean Award was launched in 2006 to honor Koreans who have made great contributions to the Korean-American community or enhanced the image of Koreans abroad.

Last year, figure skating champion Kim Yu-na and Sammy Lee, the first Asian-American to win an Olympic gold medal for the U.S. in diving, received the award.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)