Actor Kim Soo-hyun and former figure skater Kim Yu-na were awarded Thursday for raising the national brand by private-run Institute of Nation Brand Promotion.

The award ceremony was designed to acknowledge the contribution of individuals and companies which have raised the national brand, and to encourage the further spread of a positive Korean image around the world.

Actor Kim Soo-hyun was selected in the area of culture and Kim Yu-na was picked in the sports field. Cosmetics firm AmorePacific won the award for raising the national brand through social contribution.

Kim Soo-hyun’s soaps “My Love from the Star” and “The Producers” have gained much traction overseas including China. “The Producers” was sold to distributors in China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Kazakhstan -- garnering around 4 billion won ($3.4 million) in royalty revenue in China, where he has been listed as one of the most influential celebrities.

Kim Yu-na is the first Korean female skater to bag the gold at the Winter Olympics, the World Championships, the Four Continents Championships and the Grand Prix Final. She was chosen as one of “The 100 Most Influential People” by TIME magazine, and also contributed to getting Pyongchang chosen as the host of 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)

Related article: Who looks best next to Kim Soo-hyun?