Fencer Oh Sang-uk / Courtesy of Corea Image Communication Institute

Olympic gold medalist fencer Oh Sang-uk and Korean American chef Edward Lee, who showcased creative cuisine based on "hansik," or Korean food, in Netflix's popular series "Culinary Class Wars," have been selected as next year's Korea Image Awards recipients.

The Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), an organization that recognizes individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to promoting Korea's reputation globally through the annual Korea Image Awards, announced the recipients for next year's ceremony, which will be held in January.

In addition to the fencer and chef, CICI said other recipients include table tennis player Shin Yu-bin, who won two bronze medals at this year's Paris Olympics, and all translators who have translated Korean literature.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in southern Seoul on Jan. 15.

Oh will receive the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award, given to those who have contributed to promoting Korea's image globally, CICI said.

"Oh achieved team event victory and an individual title at the 2024 Paris Olympics, elevating Korea's status on the international stage through countless efforts and challenges in a country that was once a fencing wasteland, serving as a stepping stone in spreading awareness of Korean fencing's potential globally," CICI said.

Besides his two gold medals in Paris, Oh also won gold in the team event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, bringing his Olympic gold medal count to three and significantly contributing to Korea's emergence as a fencing powerhouse.

Chef Edward Lee / Courtesy of Corea Image Communication Institute

CICI said Lee will receive the Korea Image Stepping Stone Bridge Award.

"Chef Edward Lee showcased creative Korean cuisine using Korean ingredients in the Netflix hit 'Culinary Class Wars,' demonstrating that food can be a medium for conveying philosophy and culture beyond taste, serving as a bridge in spreading the warmth and depth of Korean culture globally," CICI said.

Table tennis player Shin, who won bronze medals in mixed doubles and women's team events at the Paris Olympics, will receive the Korea Image Flowerstone Award.

CICI also announced that they will pay special homage to all translators of Korean literary works, noting novelist Han Kang's recent selection as the first Korean Nobel Prize in literature winner.

"Translators highlighted through Han Kang becoming the first Korean Nobel literature prize winner have contributed to elevating Korea's image as hidden contributors in introducing Korean literature's originality, sensitivity and depth to the global literary world," CICI said.

CICI has presented these awards annually since 2005, and next year's ceremony will be attended by Oh, Lee and Shin, along with Federation of Korean Industries Chairman Ryu Jin, CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik and ambassadors from around 60 countries.