CICI Korea 2017 on-the-spot News

CICI Korea 2017, organized by CICI, celebrated its 13th anniversary on January 11. The event gathered much attention even before the event actually took place.

Around 700 people, including Korean and foreign entrepreneurs and diplomatic envoys, enlightened the event with their presence.

A photo time took place with Choi Jungwha, president of CICI, the Korea Image awardees, Han Seung-soo, former Prime Minister, Sohn Kyung-shik, CJ Group Chairman, H.E. Mark Lippert, US Ambassador, H.E. Charles Hay, British Ambassador, H.E. Fabien Penone, French Ambassador, H.E. Stephan Auer, German Ambassador, H.E. Elisabeth Bertagnoli, Austrian Ambassador, H.E. Yip Wei Kiat, Singaporean Ambassador, Song Seung Whan, CEO of PMC Production, Ahn Sung-gi, Korean Actor, and Didier Beltoise, president of CS.

CICI Korea 2017 commenced with the reception cocktail, and the participants gathered at the reception place welcoming each other.

MUMM champagne and Perrier, sponsored by Pernod Ricard Korea and CUC respectively, were provided during the reception.

CICI Korea 2017 started with the screening of ‘New Year’ by Saeghim Artist Jung Goam.

The president of CICI Choi Jungwha then delivered a greeting message to the guests, followed by congratulatory remarks given by former Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and US Ambassador H.E. Mark Lippert.

After all the celebratory messages, the Korea Image Award ceremony took place.

The Korea Image Stepping Stone Award was given to Korea’s golfing legend Se-ri Pak.

The Korea Image Stepping Stone Bridge Award was given to the computer Go program ‘AlphaGo,’ which held the historic match against Go Grandmaster Lee Se-dol.

H.E. Charles Hay, British Ambassador, received the award on behalf of Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind.

Although Demis Hassabis could not be with us at the event, he shared his sentiments and thanks through a video.

Lastly, Cho Tae-kwon, Chairman of Kwangjuyo Group, received the ‘Firestone Award’ for his role in globalizing and elevating Korean gastronomic culture. His two restaurants Gaon and Bicena both received three stars and one star, respectively, from the 2016 Michelin Guide Seoul.

After the award ceremony, Sohn Kyung-sik, CEO of CJ Group, and H.E. Fabien Penone, French Ambassador, proposed toasts to congratulate CICI Korea 2017.

A fantastic dinner was prepared by the InterContinental Coex Hotel team; words cannot express how excellent the meal was!

While enjoying the Korean traditional dinner, the auction and lucky draw took place with the auctioneer Mickey H. Kim, Director, Head of APAC Product Planning & Partnerships at Google.

Congratulations again to all the winners!

Towards the end of dinner, top original soundtrack artists ‘2nd moon’ and Pansori Singer Ko Yeongyeol gave a fusion pansori performance of ‘Pansori Chunhyangga’

We would like to thank everyone for making the event more splendid, and we promise we will do our best to further promote Korea’s positive image to the rest of the world.

Thank you very much.