Greetings from the Co-Chairmen of
the Hinzpeter Awards Organizing Committee

• 
  

  • Yoon Mok-hyun
  • Co-Chairman of the HAOC
    (Chairperson of the May 18 Foundation)

  Greetings,
  
  In May 1980, amidst the brutal state violence in Gwangju, there was a journalist who risked everything to record the truth and bring it to the world: German journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter. His courage and dedication remain a guiding light for us today as we reflect on the values of democracy, human rights, and peace. Established in his honor, the Hinzpeter Awards carries forward the spirit of journalists who document the truth.
  
  The Hinzpeter Awards has become more than just a recognition. It now serves as a platform for solidarity among journalists across the globe and for sharing the universal value of genuine journalism. Through this award, we extend our deepest respect and solidarity to journalists who strive on the frontlines to uncover facts in the face of daunting challenges.
  
  Even today, wars, oppression, censorship, and repression continue to unfold across the world. Yet, countless journalists, following in Hinzpeter’s footsteps, risk their lives to record the truth. We must never forget that their sweat and sacrifice uphold the conscience of humanity.
  
  The spirit of May 18 is built upon an unwavering belief in truth, justice, solidarity, and peace. I sincerely hope that the Hinzpeter Awards will continue to stand as a steadfast companion to all journalists who resist lies and distortion, safeguard truth, and pursue a better world.
  
  I extend my deepest gratitude to all who join us on this journey, and I wish for your continued safety and meaningful work ahead.
  
  Thank you.

• 
  

  • Youn-song Choi
  • Co-Chairman of the HAOC
    29th President of the Korean Video Journalists Association

  I first met Jürgen Hinzpeter in 2005. What stayed with me most from that meeting was the quiet kindness in his eyes. Recently, while organizing our association’s archives, I discovered a photograph of him from 1988, taken when he visited Korea just before the Olympics. Even under the shadow of a rigid military regime, his gaze, filled with concern for our nation, clearly showed the tension of those times.
  
  Tragically, the world today remains scarred by the flames of war. Inhumanity persists, and human rights are still being trampled. Just as Hinzpeter bore witness to Gwangju in 1980, video journalists today are risking their lives on the front lines of devastation to document the truth. The Hinzpeter Awards continue this journey to ensure that their noble spirit is never forgotten.
  
  As we mark the sixth anniversary of these awards, the deep stirring I felt when I first met Mr. Hinzpeter remains the bedrock of my commitment. A single day of ceremony is the culmination of an entire year of preparation. While there are moments of weariness, they fade away when I recall the raw emotion and tears of last year’s laureates. Those moments give me the ultimate conviction that our mission is truly meaningful.
  
  Through the Hinzpeter Awards, video journalists are being reborn as "another Hinzpeter" and "another Yoo Young-gil." We will never falter in the face of injustice. We will stand in unwavering solidarity to safeguard the democracy, human rights, and peace that our world so fervently seeks.
  
  Thank you.