| Shin Dong-bin Lotte Group chairman |
"I am delighted that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has chosen to recognize Chairman Shin's contributions to United Kingdom-Korea relations," Wightman said during the presentation ceremony at the envoy's residence in Seoul, Friday.
"Chairman Shin has for many years been one of the U.K.'s closest friends and strongest advocates in Korea and the award of Commander of the Order of the British Empire is richly deserved."
Shin has supported several initiatives led by the British Embassy.
These include the free English language program for North Korean defectors, dubbed the English for the Future Program.
Since it was launched in 2011, the program has helped North Korean defectors improve their foreign language skills.
Some of them received scholarships covering tuition and living expenses to pursue advanced degree programs in Britain.
"Through Lotte Department Store, Chairman Shin has provided significant personal support for showcasing the very best of British fashion, most recently during the 2012 Lotte British Fair," the embassy said in a press release.
"Chairman Shin has also led the way in supporting surviving Korean War veterans of all nations, including those from the U.K., and honoring the memory of those who sacrificed their lives during the conflict."
Shin has been building ties with the U.K. since the early 1980s when he spent six years in London at Nomura International.
Since then, he has had worked closely with the British Embassy and other British institutions to improve bilateral relations through Lotte Group and the Federation of Korean Industries.
Every year, Queen Elizabeth chooses to honor people who have been outstanding in the areas of economics, culture, arts, science and technology, and sports by awarding them the CBE.
Other Koreans to be awarded a CBE include former lawmaker Park Jin, who now chairman of the Korea-Britain Society in Seoul.