Awards presented at 61st Magazine Day ceremony

Lee Ju-sang, CEO of Doseochulpan Wonye. [Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]
Lee Ju-sang, CEO of Doseochulpan Wonye. [Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

Lee Ju-sang, CEO of Doseochulpan Wonye, is among 14 people set to receive government commendations on Magazine Day.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Magazine Association announced Monday that they will hold the 61st Magazine Day ceremony at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, presenting government awards to individuals who have contributed to the development of magazine culture. This year's honorees include one recipient of the Order of Culture Merit, one presidential commendation, one prime ministerial commendation and 11 ministerial commendations, for a total of 14 people.

Lee will receive the Order of Culture Merit. Lee founded Wolgan Wonye (Monthly Horticulture) in 1983 — the country's first magazine dedicated to horticulture — and has consistently disseminated specialized information on agriculture and horticulture for more than 40 years. By reporting on advanced cultivation technology and the voices of farmers from across the country, Lee has contributed to improving agricultural competitiveness, raising farm household incomes and revitalizing agricultural product retail.

The presidential commendation will go to Seong Gi-myeong, CEO of Audio. Seong has contributed to the development of the music industry and the audio sector through the publication of Wolgan Audio (Monthly Audio), the country's only magazine dedicated to audio.

Tak Ji-won, CEO of Wolgan Hyeondae Jonggyo, will receive the prime ministerial commendation. As the second publisher of Hyeondae Jonggyo (Modern Religion), a monthly magazine founded by the late religious issues researcher Tak Myeong-hwan, Tak has contributed to fostering a healthy religious culture by reporting on pseudo-religious groups and other socially problematic phenomena.

Eleven others will receive ministerial commendations from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism: Kang Geum-ju, CEO of Artplan Com; Kim Jong-sang, CEO of Josegeumsungnews; Park Mi-gyeong, CEO of Gamcommunity; Yang Mun-gyu, CEO of Siwaessei; Lee Beom-seok, CEO of Goraesilh; Jeong Gi-ok, CEO of Litopia; Jeong Seo-u, CEO of News Report; Han Yeong-ye, CEO of Yesulgga; Kim Yeong-hwan, CEO of Ilwoo D&P; Kim Jeong-seop, professor at Sungshin Women's University; and Jeong Hyeon-suk, chairperson of the Cha Sang-chan Memorial Foundation.

Kim Jae-hyeon, director general of the Culture and Media Industry Bureau at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the ministry plans to incorporate new, era-appropriate measures to help magazines reach new readers and markets into the Fourth Basic Plan for the Promotion of Periodicals.


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