Korea Foundation honors US Peace Corps vets for decades of grassroots diplomacy

The Korea Foundation recently honored the decade-long efforts of Friends of Korea (FoK) in promoting cultural understanding between the United States and South Korea. On Wednesday, the prestigious organization bestowed the 10th Korea Foundation Award upon FoK at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul, recognizing the nonprofit's tireless work in nurturing ties between the two nations.

Founded in 2002 by former U.S. Peace Corps volunteers who served in Korea during the 1960s and 1980s, FoK has spent more than two decades deepening mutual understanding and goodwill. The Peace Corps initially dispatched thousands of young Americans to teach English and aid rural development in Korea, leaving a lasting impact. FoK has meticulously documented the early missions of these volunteers, while also promoting Korean culture in the U.S. through public education, publishing, and community outreach.

At the award ceremony, FoK Chairman Gerard Krzic and board member Jenna Gibson, representing the organization, accepted the top honor on behalf of FoK. In a gesture of appreciation, FoK presented KF President Song Gui-do with a commemorative plaque titled "Sixty Years of Friendship," symbolizing the enduring legacy of the Peace Corps in Korea.