Andong: British Ambassador to South Korea Colin Crooks will be given honorary citizenship of the eastern city of Andong later this week, municipality officials said Tuesday. Crooks, who took office as Britain’s top envoy to Seoul in 2022, will be presented with the recognition during a ceremony on Friday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Crooks’ connection to Andong dates back to 1999 when he played a significant role in organizing Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to the city, which is home to Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was during this visit that Crooks met his future wife, who hails from Andong.

Crooks has considerable diplomatic experience on the Korean Peninsula, having previously served as Britain’s ambassador to North Korea from 2018 to 2021. His contributions to fostering diplomatic relations have been noteworthy, leading to this special recognition from the city of Andong.

The ceremony will also include the presentation of other awards, such as the distinguished Andong citizen award, which will be given to Yonhap News Agency CEO Hwang Dae-il.