'Monthly Horticulture' CEO Lee Ju-sang to receive Cultural Merit Medal; 14 honored for contributions to magazine culture

[Financial News] Lee Ju-sang, CEO of Horticulture Publishing, who has spent about 40 years covering agriculture and horticulture in the field and sharing specialized information, will receive the Cultural Merit Medal. Fourteen people who have contributed to the development of magazine culture in fields including music, religion, and regional culture and the arts have been selected for honors.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 2nd, the ministry and the Korea Magazine Association will hold a ceremony that day at the international conference hall of the Korea Press Center in Jung District, Seoul, to mark the 61st Magazine Day and present government awards and commendations. One person will receive the Cultural Merit Medal, one the Presidential Commendation, one the Prime Minister's Commendation, and 11 the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Commendation.
Lee launched Monthly Horticulture in 1983 as the country's first specialized horticulture magazine. Lee was recognized for contributions to boosting agricultural competitiveness and farm incomes and promoting the distribution of agricultural products by sharing outstanding cultivation techniques from agricultural sites across the country and the voices of farmers. Lee received a Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Commendation at the 47th Magazine Day in 2012.
The Presidential Commendation will go to Seong Gi-myeong, CEO of Audio, which publishes Monthly Audio. Seong entered the magazine industry in 1986 and, since 2003, has worked as the publisher of the country's only specialist audio magazine, contributing to the development of the music industry and the audio sector.
The Prime Minister's Commendation will go to Tak Ji-won, publisher of Monthly Modern Religion. Tak is the second publisher of Modern Religion, founded by the late Director Tak Myung-hwan, a researcher of religious issues. The award recognizes Tak's work covering pseudo-religious groups and other subjects that have become social problems, and sharing related information.
Eleven people will receive the ministerial commendation, including Kang Geum-ju, CEO of Art Plan Com, who has documented regional culture and the arts through Sagak Art, and Lee Beom-seok, CEO of Goraesil, who has captured rural life in Monthly Okine. Those selected have contributed to the development of magazines in fields including literature, design, advanced industries, and academic research.
Magazine Day was designated in 1965 to commemorate the launch date of The Boy, founded by Choe Nam-seon on November 1, 1908.
Kim Jaehyun, head of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Culture and Media Industry Office, said, “As information becomes more abundant, the value of trustworthy planning and reporting, and of in-depth writing that readers can mull over for a long time, is actually growing. We plan to faithfully incorporate new promotion measures suited to the times into the Fourth Basic Plan for the Promotion of Periodicals.”
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