FRIENDS OF KOREA
  • Welcome
    • O'Donnell Distinguished Friend of Korea Award - >
      • Call for Nominations - closed
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      • O'Donnell Award - previous honorees >
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Kevin O'Donnell Distinguished Friend of Korea Award

한국의 친구들 주최 
케빈오단넬 기념상 수상자 모집안내

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Introduction
The Kevin O’Donnell Distinguished Friend of Korea Award recognizes individuals distinguished by their accomplishments that are consistent with the mission of Friends of Korea: fostering cultural awareness and friendship between Americans and Koreans. The award is a lasting tribute to the extraordinary contributions made by Kevin O’Donnell, U.S. Peace Corps’ first country director in Korea and the fourth director of the Peace Corps. Kevin’s commitment to service – to his community, to his country and to Korea – were exemplary.  We seek to identify and honor individuals who have made similar contributions to their community, be it local, national or global.

In 1966, O'Donnell accepted an assignment from the Peace Corps to be the first country director for South Korea. O'Donnell's assignment was to establish educational programs in English, math, science, and physical education.  Because each host nation has such different needs and wants, there was no single recipe for establishing a program. Unlike his U.S. embassy and military counterparts, O'Donnell had to rely on the local Korean economy for staff, housing, and office space. The language was difficult to master, the culture an enigma to most Americans. "You went in and you sank or swam," said O'Donnell. 

He found that managing Peace Corps volunteers was different from working in private industry.  "By and large, people who applied to the Peace Corps had energy and ability, and my biggest job was to point them in the right direction and then get the hell out of the way," O'Donnell said. O'Donnell's leadership of the Peace Corps in Korea was recognized by President Park Chung Hee, who awarded O'Donnell the Order of Civil Merit as O'Donnell completed four years as country director.

Forty years later, The Korea Society in New York recognized the tremendous role and impact of the Peace Corps during its 15-year commitment in Korea with the 2008 James A. Van Fleet Award, given to prominent Korean and American individuals or organizations for outstanding contributions to U.S-Korea relationships.  Kevin O'Donnell, as the first country director of Peace Corps Korea, accepted the award on behalf of the volunteers.  In the words of Don Hess, the country director who followed Kevin, "He left an indelible imprint on the lives of staff and the shape of programs and people there."

To nominate someone for this award, click here.

To see a list of previous honorees, click here.
​
​updated: May 2024

Friends of Korea 
fostering cultural awareness and friendship between Americans and Koreans

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  • Welcome
    • O'Donnell Distinguished Friend of Korea Award - >
      • Call for Nominations - closed
      • 2024 Honoree - Jon Keeton
      • 2023 Honoree - Donald Mosley
      • O'Donnell Award - previous honorees >
        • Photos of O'Donnell Honorees
    • Remembering Rosalynn Carter
    • Peace Corps - an essay by G. Krzic
    • A Simple Prayer - a musical tribute
    • Remembering in the time of COVID-19
    • Photos and Videos >
      • Photo Gallery: Biwon in Winter
      • Video Gallery
      • Photo Gallery: Arriving in Korea
      • Photo Gallery: TB Program in Korea
      • Photo Gallery: Road Show 1981
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Reflections on Service
    • Statement on diversity and respect
    • Board of Directors
    • 2023 Annual Report >
      • Annual Reports - 2022 & earlier
    • Honorary Membership
    • KOICA/World Friends Korea
    • FOK Blog
    • Past Annual Meetings >
      • 2018 Annual Meeting >
        • 2018 annual meeting - slide show
      • 2017 Annual Meeting >
        • 2017 annual mtg photo gallery
      • 2016 Annual Meeting >
        • 2016 annual mtg photo galllery
      • 2015 Annual Meeting >
        • 2015 Annual Mtg Photo Gallery
  • Resources
    • FoK Webinars - 2023 >
      • FoK Webinars - 2022 >
        • FoK Webinars - 2021 >
          • 2020 Webinars
          • Korean Studies and Peace Corps Volunteers
    • Korea Times column
    • Newsletters >
      • Yobosayo - June 2020
      • Yobosayo - Nov 2019 >
        • Suggestions for further reading
      • Yobosayo - March 2019
      • Yobosayo - May 2018
      • Yobosayo - November 2017
      • Yobosayo - April 2017
    • News about Korea
    • News Sources
    • Korean Cultural Treasures
    • Korean Food >
      • Dining Out in North America: Korea Style
    • Blogs of Interest
  • Events
    • 2024 Annual Meeting video
    • Sept 11 2024 webinar
    • 2023 Annual Meeting - video
    • 2022 Annual Meeting - video
    • 2021 Annual Meeting - video
    • 2020 Annual Meeting - video
    • Revisit Trips >
      • Impressions of the revisits
      • Slide Show - Korea, Then and Now
    • 2018 Reunion - LA >
      • In Remembrance - A Tribute
    • Upcoming Events - Universities
    • Upcoming events: KEI & Korea Society
    • Upcoming events: Korean Cultural Centers - DC, NYC & LA
  • Projects
    • Paths of Grass and Stone
    • Project Bridge - Youth Ambassadors
    • USC Archives - PC Korea
    • The Korean Transformation
    • FOK Publication -- "Through Our Eyes"
    • The Museum Project >
      • Exhibit opening
      • Museum Slide Show
      • Video -- MOU signing & volunteer interviews
      • Seoul in Sept 2016
  • Recent News
  • Support
    • Join us
    • Donate
    • Giving Back
    • Join offline
    • Other Ways to Give (NEW!)
    • Give the gift of membership
    • Zazzle - Peace Corps Korea Store
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Event to share?
    • Update your address
    • News to share?
    • Publications Update Form