11 September 2015 – Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez received recognition from a Seoul-based news and public relations firm on September 07 for his active role in strengthening bilateral relations between the Philippines and South Korea, among others.
In a simple ceremony at the Philippine Embassy Chancery, Shin Hyun-doo, President and publisher of NDN (New Digital Network) News and Seoul City Magazine, bestowed to Ambassador Hernandez the Proud Ambassador Award for “successfully playing a pivotal role” for Filipinos, now numbering 54,000, who live and work in South Korea.
In the citation, Ambassador Hernandez was also credited for “excellently carrying out his role in coordinating regional countries’ interests as Dean of the ASEAN countries in Korea.”
The Philippine ambassador chaired the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS) in the second half of 2014, a crucial period when President Park Geun-hye hosted 10 ASEAN heads of state, including President Benigno S. Aquino III, in Busan in December 2014 for the 25th anniversary of Korea’s dialogue partnership status in the sub-regional grouping.
The event, which also recognized the ambassadors of Bolivia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador and Sierra Leone, was held at the Philippine Embassy after Ambassador Hernandez was not able to attend the annual Pride Korea Awards held at Korea’s National Assembly Building on 1 September 2015.
Apart from the five Seoul-based ambassadors, NDN News also recognized President Shin Bong-kil of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA). END