The Navy Academy held a ceremony unveiling a bronze bust of Sohn Won-il, Korea’s first chief of naval operations, in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday.

Hong Eun-hye, the late admiral’s widow, and several top naval officials including Navy Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Won Tae-ho attended the ceremony to honor his contribution to the establishment of the country’s naval forces.

Lee Tae-ho, professor at Kyunghee University, spent around three months making the bust based on the widow’s advice, officials explained. It measures 90 centimeters in height and 70 centimeters in width.

Admiral Sohn, who died in 1980 at 71, has been revered as a legendary naval leader for shaping up the Korean Navy. In 1947, he was inaugurated as the first chief of naval operations. He also served as defense minister from 1953-56 and ambassador to Germany from 1957-60.

In recognition of his contributions and achievements, the late admiral, called the “father of the Korean Navy,” received a variety of awards and decorations, including the Order of Military Merit, the Award of the U.S. Silver Star, the Order of Military Merit Taegeuk and the U.N. War Medal.

For decades, his widow has engaged in numerous activities and campaigns to support the Korean Navy.

As president of the Navy Wives Club, she ran fund-raising campaigns and did seamstress jobs to help purchase the first Korean naval vessel “ROKS Baekdu-san.” She has also worked to improve the welfare of war widows and disabled war veterans.

Recognized for her artistic talents, she received the Sinsaimdang Award for her Oriental paintings in 1983. On her husband’s centennial birthday last year, she received a Navy Achievement Award for her devotion to the Navy.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)