The solemn ceremony of awarding the Ambassador of Korea H.E. Dr. Chun Bi-ho was in the Aula.
The ceremony was attended by the Rector, Prof. Ivan Ilchev, Prof. Teofanov, Dean of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology, and Prof. Soskov, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics. H.E. Dr. Chun Bi-ho was awarded the honorary insignia according to the verdict of the Academic Council of Sofia University, Report 3, 19th December, 2012.
The theme of the academic speech was „Innovation and the role of the university: the case of Korea”. The speech is available as an attachment.
H.E. Dr Chun Bi-ho has made exceptional contributions to the development of scientific research in the field of Korean Studies in Bulgaria. He has actively worked towards establishing relations at high academic standards between Sofia University and state and academic institutions in Republic of Korea.
H.E. Dr Chun Bi-ho has been Ambassador of Republic of Korea in Bulgaria since 2010. He received a Doctor of Political Science degree of Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, and is a Professor of National Strategy and Political Science, University of Seoul, Republic of Korea. Dr Chun Bi-ho is involved in scientific research, he publishes books and scientific articles, and participates in scientific conferences and projects.
It is the first time an Ambassador of an Asian country to formulate and successfully pursue an integral strategy for development of bilateral relations between our two countries, including the field of education and science. He also tremendously contributed to the development of the scientific research and curricula at Sofia University. Some of the many successful projects in the field to be noted are:
Establishing a Korean-Bulgarian IT Cooperation Center in 2011;
ITCC completed a project in favour of Sofia University at a total cost of EUR 70,000: "Development of Sofia University eService System by adopting Korean eGovFrame". H.E. Dr Chun Bi-ho has encouraged active academic mobility through exchange of lecturers and students between Sofia University and a number of Korean educational institutions;
His personal efforts resulted in additional funding of the Department of Korean Studies and the Centre for Korean Studies at Sofia University to support research and publishing.
In addition, H.E. Dr Chun Bi-ho supported the establishment of the the Centre for Korean Studies at Sofia University as a hub centre for Korean Studies for Eastern Europe.
He also has initiated a number of events towards availability of more information about Korea in Bulgaria, as well as establishing Korean Studies lectures at tow more universities: in Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo.
H.E. Dr Chun Bi-ho further support includes regular competitions in rhetoric in Korean at Sofia University, as well as language proficiency exams in Korean - TOPIK, which will be held for a third year in 2013.