The Van Fleet Award, named after General James Van Fleet, the U.S. commander who fought in the Korean War, is presented annually by the U.S.-based non-profit organization Korea Society to individuals who have contributed to promoting Korea and its relationship with the U.S.
Previous recipients include former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former U.S. President George W. Bush.
Pak became the first Korean woman to win the award, sharing the honor with co-winner Yoon Yoon-soo, CEO of apparel company FILA Holdings and golf equipment firm Acushnet Holdings.
The organization said she played a crucial role in strengthening bilateral relations through sports.
During the peak of her professional career, Pak achieved 25 wins on the LPGA Tour and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. Since her retirement in 2016, she has been nurturing aspiring golfers by hosting tournaments in Korea and the U.S., along with other related activities through her namesake foundation.
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