Hong Kyu-dok, Distinguished Professor at the College of Hallyu Studies, Awarded Hungary’s Commander’s Cross
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- Writer 커뮤니케이션팀
- 보도일자 2026-04-15
Hong Kyu-dok, Distinguished Professor at the College of Hallyu Studies at Sookmyung Women’s University and former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Hungary, has been awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary in recognition of his contributions to the development of Korea–Hungary relations.
The award ceremony was held on April 10 at the Azur Hall of Peace & Park Convention in the War Memorial of Korea, located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Attendees included Hungarian Ambassador to Korea Szerdahelyi, Sookmyung President Moon Si-yeun, Dean Moon Hyung-nam of the College of Hallyu Studies, and other prominent figures from political, business, and diplomatic circles in both countries.
During his tenure as ambassador, Professor Hong established the Korean Residents Association in Hungary, laying the foundation for the Korean expatriate community and working to protect Korean nationals overseas. He also established a King Sejong Institute at University of Miskolc, expanding the reach of Korean language and Korean studies, and contributed to broader exchanges in the fields of economics, culture, and education. In addition, he supported parliamentary-level exchanges and promoted the spread of Hallyu, thereby strengthening friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.
In recognition of these achievements, the Hungarian government awarded Professor Hong the highest honor that may be conferred upon a foreign national. A letter of appreciation from President Tamás Sulyok, former President of the Constitutional Court of Hungary, was presented, and the Hungarian Ambassador to Korea expressed gratitude on behalf of the Hungarian people. A luncheon followed the ceremony, featuring a performance of Taepyeongmu, a traditional Korean dance, which was warmly received by attendees.
The College of Hallyu Studies stated, “This ceremony not only honored Prof. Hong Kyu-dok’s diplomatic achievements, but also served as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation and friendship between Korea and Hungary.”