CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, the winner of the 2018 winner of the General James A. Van Fleet Award.

The Van Fleet Award is named for General James A. Van Fleet, commander of the U.S. Eighth Army at the height of the Korean War in 1951.

CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik has become the 2018 winner of the General James A. Van Fleet Award, given to individuals or bodies in recognition of their contribution to the development of Korea-U.S. relations.

The Korea Society on Sept. 11 announced CJ Group Chairman Sohn as the winner of the General James A. Van Fleet Award in recognition for spearheading the fever of hallyu (Korea Wave) in a wide range of content businesses, including K-pop, K-beauty, film and Korean food.

On top of CJ Group’s management, the non-profit organization also said Chairman Sohn has greatly contributed to bond of the Korean and U.S. economies by heading such organizations as the Korea America Friendship Society, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Presidential Council on National Competiveness. An award ceremony will take place at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, New York, on Sept. 21 during the Korea Society’s annual dinner.

The General James A. Van Fleet Award, given annually since 1995 by the Korea Society, is awarded “to one or more distinguished Koreans or Americans in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the promotion of U.S.-Korea relations.”

It is one of the most prestigious awards in the field of U.S.–Korea relations.
The award is named for General James A. Van Fleet, commander of the U.S. Eighth Army at the height of the Korean War in 1951. Beginning in 1957, General Van Fleet served as the first president of the Korea Society.

The recipients of the award included former Korean president Kim Dae-jung, ex-U.S. president George W. Bush, former U.N, secretary general Ban Ki-moon, Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo and SK Group Chairman Chey Tai-won.

U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris will deliver a key-note at the awards ceremony and dinner in which about 400 people from Korean and American economic, business, diplomatic and cultural circles will participate.

A view of the KCON Japan, an annual K-pop and hallyu convention hosted by CJ Group, which took place at Mikuhara Messe International Exhibition Center in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, in April 2018. (Photos: CJ)