South Korea-based Asia Journalist Association (AJA) recently announced ‘2018 Asians of the Year’: South Korean football coach Park Hang-seo, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, LG group’s former Chairman Koo Bon-moo, and Egypt’s heart surgeon Magdi Habib Yacoub. The awards ceremony is set to be held during AJA General Meeting 2019.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan, was selected for the politics category in ‘2018 Asians of the Year’. Since he became the president in December 2016, he has made significant reforms in policies to improve human rights protection and the country’s economy.
Koo Bon-moo
Koo Bon-moo, the late LG Group chairman who passed away in May 2018, has been named one of the ‘Asians of the year’ in the ‘economy’ category as he contributed to the development of the LG Group into a global company. He was also known for establishing the LG Award in 2015 for those who sacrificed themselves for social justice.
Magdi Habib Yacoub
Sir Magdi Habib Yacoub, an Egyptian cardiothoracic surgeon, has been chosen in the ‘society and culture’ category. Yacoub established Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation and has been treating patients with heart diseases in developing countries. He also serves as the Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Imperial College, London.
The Asian Journalist Association is proud to honor the humanitarian spirit of Sir Yacoub.
Park Hang-seo
Park Hang-seo, the Korean coach of the Vietnam national football team, has been selected for the ‘society and culture’ category. He has contributed to bringing Vietnamese people together through football as his team won the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup’s final. His dedicated leadership has also helped create a positive image of Korea among Vietnamese population.
This article was originally published on The AsiaN, online portal of South Korea-based Asia Journalist Association (AJA).
