ANNAPOLIS — First Lady Yumi Hogan will receive the Order of Civil Merit of the Republic of Korea, the nation’s highest and most prestigious civilian honor.
It will all take place on Nov. 24 during a ceremony at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington, D.C.
The First Lady is one of the first Korean Americans from the Washington Metropolitan region to receive a Camellia (Dongbaek) Medal—the top third grade of the Order of Civil Merit.
“As a first-generation Korean American and the first Korean American First Lady of any state, I have made it my mission to bring different generations of Korean Americans together, to connect Korea and Maryland, and to promote the value and beauty of Korean culture and heritage,” said the First Lady. “Our success is thanks to the many Korean Americans in Maryland who have kept our community’s legacy alive, and our partners in Korea who share special friendships with our state.”
This award recognizes the First Lady’s commitment to serving Maryland’s many diverse communities as well as her international diplomatic skills. The First Lady has led two trade missions to Korea, and played a pivotal role in the creation of a sister-state relationship between the State of Maryland and her home province of Jeollanam-do.
In February, she helped coordinate a reception at the Korean Ambassador’s Residence in Washington, D.C. for the National Governors Association, which brought together governors from across America with Korean diplomats and business leaders.
The First Lady received international recognition for her efforts to help secure Korean COVID-19 tests in coordination with the South Korean government and Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C.
To date, the state has used more than 370,000 LabGenomics tests in the fight against COVID-19.
