Chinese actress Tang Wei, AmorePacific chairman Suh Kyung-bae and speed skating champion Shim Suk-hee received awards from a non-governmental organization on Monday for their contributions to Korea’s image abroad.

Some 600 people, including artists, athletes, diplomats, politicians, businessmen, professors and journalists, participated in the Corea Image Communication Institute’s awards ceremony in Seoul.

“Our company has continuously striven to spread the beauty of Asia to the rest of the world since our founding in 1945. We believe the true source of beauty lies in diversity, and by targeting markets in China, France and the U.S., will further promote Korea’s brand and image to our global customers,” Suh said. 

The cosmetics-maker, best known for its popular lines Sulwhasoo, Iope, Hera and Etude, has been spearheading the popularity of Korean beauty products in Asia.

Tang said she wanted to connect people in Korea and her home country through her films.

“The cultural distance between the East and West is continuing to narrow. By celebrating Westerners’ curiosity about Asia and Asians’ curiosity about the West, I hope that filmmakers, actors and actresses will produce more valuable films in this increasingly connected world.”

Famous for her roles in “Lust, Caution” and “Finding Mr. Right,” Tang received the best actress award at Korea’s Paeksang Arts Awards in 2010 as the first non-Korean actress to do so. Last year, Tang married Korean film director Kim Tae-yong, who directed her film, “Late Autumn.”

Beloved by Korean fans, she was chosen to host the opening ceremony of the 17th Busan International Film Festival in 2012. She was also the ambassador for a film festival celebrating the 20th anniversary of Korea-China diplomatic relations in the same year.

Shim won a gold medal for short-track speed skating at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

The CICI event was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korean Culture and Information Service and Korean companies including Samsung Electronics, Asiana Airlines, Sports Toto, Korean Air, Industrial Bank of Korea and Seeds.

For the last 12 years, CICI has hosted the Culture Communication Forum by inviting global leaders, hosted the Korea CQ Forum featuring prominent speakers, run 5.4 Club activities to promote Korea using five senses and four channels of communication, held research seminars on public relations, and run social networking events.

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)