President Paul Kagame was honoured with a peace award at the 28th Manhae Grand Prize Ceremony in South Korea on Monday, August 12. According to the Rwandan Embassy in Seoul, the award recognizes Kagame's contributions to peace and stability in Rwanda following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. ALSO READ: Pomp and glamour as Kagame is sworn in This prestigious accolade places Kagame in the company of esteemed past recipients, such as Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama. The Manhae Grand Prize Awards, founded in 1997 by Korean Buddhist monks, are named in honour of Han Yong-un Manhae, a celebrated Korean independence activist and poet. This year's ceremony, held as part of the annual Manhae Festival, emphasised the values of freedom, peace, and independence championed by Manhae. ALSO READ: Kagame speaks out on ambiguity over Genocide against the Tutsi President Kagame’s role in Rwanda's post-genocide recovery was emphasized during the Manhae Grand Prize Ceremony, particularly his efforts in promoting forgiveness, reconciliation, and nation-building over retribution. Under Kagame's leadership, Rwanda achieved lasting peace and emerged as one of Africa's fastest-growing economies, with notable progress in gender equality recognized globally. ALSO READ: Study shows strong post-genocide resilience among Rwandans The event in Inje, Gangwon Province, attracted around 600 attendees, including notable figures such as Chief Monk Jin Woo, President of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, National Assembly member Yangsu Lee, Deputy Governor for Economic Affairs of Gangwon Province Jung Gwangryeol, Inje County Mayor Sanggi Choi, and Dr. Jaewoong Yoon, President of Dongguk University. Other honourees included Professor Kim Hoon, a specialist in emergency medicine at Inje University Hospital, and Kim Hye-sim, Dean of the Won Buddhism Order, both of whom received the Practice Grand Prize for their contributions to healthcare and community development in Korea and abroad. The Literature Grand Prize was awarded to Korean poet Kim Yong-taek and Professor Emeritus Ahn Seon-jae (Brother Anthony), recognized for their efforts in promoting Korean literature on the international stage. Chief Monk Jin Woo, speaking at the event, remarked, The Manhae Grand Prize aims to revive the national spirit by upholding the legacy of the great monk Manhae and guiding humanity on the path of peace and happiness. “The values of life, love, and peace are essential ideals that both the nation and humanity should strive to achieve.
