Former Bank of Korea Governor Kim Joong-soo has been selected as the recipient of the 19th Ilsong Award.
Hallym University's Ilsong Memorial Foundation announced on the 6th that it had selected former Governor Kim as this year's award recipient. The Ilsong Award was established in 2006 to honor the legacy of the late Dr. Yoon Duk-sun, founder of Hallym University. The academic award is presented annually to one expert who has achieved outstanding accomplishments in the fields of medicine, education, or social service.
Former Governor Kim is an economist and public official who served as president of the Korea Institute of Public Finance, president of the Korea Development Institute (KDI), and Governor of the Bank of Korea. During the early Lee Myung-bak administration, he coordinated economic policy as Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Presidential Office. As Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), he led Korea's accession to the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), making Korea the world's first country to transition from aid recipient to donor nation. He also spearheaded higher education reform as the 6th, 9th, and 10th president of Hallym University. Since 2023, he has served as chairman of the Glocal University Committee, contributing to bold regulatory innovation.
Song Ho-keun, director of Hallym University's Doheon Academy and member of the Ilsong Award recommendation committee, said, "Former Governor Kim has led various projects and reforms in the fields of education and economics," adding that "he has made significant contributions to both national economic development and the advancement of higher education."
The Ilsong Award ceremony will be held on the 10th of this month at the International Conference Room in Hallym University's International Convention Center.
