On December 20, 2024, Cyber Diplomacy Organization VANK and the Korea Heritage Service held the ‘Global & Digital National Heritage Best Ambassador Awards Ceremony’ at the National Palace Museum of Korea Auditorium.
The event was attended by VANK’s Director Park Ki-tae, officials from the Korea Heritage Service’s International Heritage Cooperation Division, global and digital national heritage ambassadors, and VANK researchers, totaling 13 participants. During the ceremony, VANK and the Korea Heritage Service selected and honored the best ambassadors among the global and digital national heritage ambassadors, who were trained through initiatives targeting youth and young adults. The achievements of the awardees were shared, and the recipients were presented with certificates from the National Heritage Administrator.
The ceremony, hosted by VANK researcher Kwon So-young, commenced with an introduction of guests and welcoming remarks, followed by presentations of the awardees’ achievements, the award presentation, and a group photo session.
All awardees are VANK members, including Truong Thi Ngoc Anh (Vietnam), a third-term Global National Heritage Ambassador; Chaerani Mutiara (Indonesia), also a third-term Global National Heritage Ambassador; and Lee Soo-hyun, a seventh-term Digital National Heritage Ambassador.
During the achievement-sharing session, Truong Thi Ngoc Anh reflected, “Through my activities comparing and introducing the intangible heritage of Korea and Vietnam, I gained an opportunity to understand and respect the rich traditions of both nations. This experience allowed me to recognize cultural diversity and learn from each other’s heritage.”
Chaerani Mutiara shared, “One of the most memorable activities was connecting Andong Hahoe Village with Indonesia’s traditional Batik clothing. Being able to introduce Batik, which I have worn since birth, alongside Korea’s traditional culture was truly meaningful.”
Lee Soo-hyun introduced her global petition advocating for the inclusion of ‘Hanji’ in English dictionaries, saying, “Through my ambassador activities, I made foreign friends and enjoyed engaging in cultural exchanges online.”
VANK Director Park Ki-tae remarked, “This awards ceremony reaffirmed the crucial role that youth play in promoting and safeguarding Korea’s cultural heritage globally. Their passion and dedication have borne fruit today. Sharing and understanding cultures is an essential process in the global era.” Addressing the winners, he added, “Through your efforts, you have presented the future of Korean culture to 200 million Hallyu fans worldwide and demonstrated coexistence with other cultures. This is more than just cultural exchange; it represents a significant step toward true cultural coexistence. Thank you for proving our dreams possible.”
Administrative Officer Park Ga-yeon from the International Heritage Cooperation Division commented, “By introducing Vietnamese and Indonesian cultures alongside Korean culture, we have been able to spread even greater cultural value worldwide.” She expressed gratitude to the awardees, stating, “Your dedication and enthusiasm play a crucial role in raising global awareness of our national heritage.” She further emphasized, “We hope that both the public and international audiences will continue to engage with our national heritage, and we look forward to ongoing collaboration with VANK.”
Since signing a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Heritage Service in 2021, VANK has been actively promoting Korea’s cultural heritage worldwide while jointly addressing historical and cultural misrepresentations by neighboring countries. Their cooperation extends across various fields, including training digital cultural heritage ambassadors, engaging youth as UNESCO guardians, countering historical distortions in collaboration with cultural heritage organizations, and supporting World Heritage inscription efforts. VANK emphasized, “In the Hallyu era, it is not enough to simply promote Korean culture; we must also embrace and coexist with diverse global cultures.” They highlighted the essential role of youth in disseminating the value of national heritage worldwide.
Moving forward, VANK aims to strengthen its partnership with the Korea Heritage Service and continue nurturing ambassadors to accurately promote Korea’s cultural heritage in an era where 200 million global Hallyu fans are eager to learn more about Korea’s rich history and traditions.