A ceremonial event to confer the title of Honorary Citizen of Seoul took place at Seoul City Hall, El.kz cites MFA.
This year, for the first time, this prestigious title was awarded to a citizen of Kazakhstan – Ruslan Kairambayev, an employee of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Korea.
Since the title's establishment in 1958, only 933 individuals from 100 countries around the world have received this honor. The title is awarded to foreign nationals who have made significant contributions to the development of Seoul. This year, it was granted to 16 recipients who have played a role in strengthening international cooperation and advancing the city.
First Deputy Mayor of Seoul Kim Sang-han highlighted the outstanding achievements of the honorees and expressed gratitude for their fruitful work, emphasizing the importance of bringing nations and cultures closer together.
Ruslan Kairambayev was recognized for his heroic act performed in December last year. He extinguished a burning car emerging from an underground parking lot before the arrival of firefighters. His decisive actions prevented the fire from spreading and saved lives.
Speaking on behalf of all the honorees, Ruslan Kairambayev thanked Seoul City Hall for the honor and stated that he does not consider his actions heroic: “Anyone in my position would have done the same.” He also expressed hope that his example would contribute to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between Kazakhstan and Korea.
The conferral of this award symbolizes the growing bilateral ties between Kazakhstan and South Korea and underscores the importance of solidarity in advancing international relations.