Asia Society Korea Center New Year Celebration
January 22, 2015 SEOUL - The Asia Society Korea Center celebrated the beginning of 2015 by holding its New Year Celebration on January 22nd, 2015. The event, hosted by Shin Dong Bin, Chairman of both Asia Society Korea Center and the Lotte Group, included a tour of the Lotte World Tower construction site and Lotte World Mall, and was followed by a banquet. In attendance were Honorary Chairman Dr. Lee Hong-koo, over 30 members of the foreign diplomatic community, and corporate and individual members of the Asia Society.
The highlight of the evening was a guided tour of the construction site of the new Lotte World Tower. Upon its completion in 2016, the tower will become the tallest skyscraper on the Korean Peninsular with 123 floors and a total height of 555 meters. The tour saw guests make their way to the 68th floor of the building, where they could sample a taste of the spectacular view over Seoul that the Lotte World Tower is going to offer upon completion. After returning to solid ground the tour then showed guests around the Lotte World Mall, the shopping mall complex that occupies the lower floors of the Lotte World Tower.
During the dinner, Honorary Chairman Dr. Lee Hong-koo presented H.E. Vishnu Prakash, the Ambassador of India to South Korea, with the 2014 Ambassador of the Year Award for his continued and exemplary support to the Asia Society Korea Center. Due to the overwhelming contributions from the foreign diplomatic community in 2014, the Korea Center felt that one award was not enough, and H.E. Jasem Albudaiwi, the Ambassador of Kuwait to South Korea, became the first recipient of the new Distinguished Patron Award for 2014 for his outstanding contributions.New members were also welcomed and guests participated in a raffle draw for prizes donated by the new members. New corporate members were recognized: Kim & Chang, KDB Daewoo Securities, KB Investment & Securities, LEE & KO, SHIN & KIM, and Shinhan Bank, and new individual members in attendance included David Cotterchio, Hyung T. Hong, Kumjoo Huh, Don K. Mun, Nani Park, James Pearson, Kay Song, Mark Tetto and Wonhi Yoo.
As the night drew to a close, Honorary Chairman Dr. Lee Hong-koo offered his closing remarks for the evening. In his speech he drew from the past while looking forward into the future, emphasizing the important role that the Asia Society plays in promoting understanding between cultures and the effect that has on international relationships. He stated that the Asia Society Korea Center is determined to make the neighborhood of Asia, and as a result the larger global village, a better and more peaceful place through promotion of mutual understanding, while stressing just how important the diplomatic community is to the Asia Society in promoting this understanding.
Overall, the night was a celebration of the past, while also giving a glimpse into what the future holds. The contributions of current members were honored, while new members were warmly welcomed and with everyone associated with the Asia Society working together, 2015 promises to be a successful year.