Recognizing a Job Well Done

[성김 대사]

There is a saying that you are only as good as the people around you.  Well, I am proud to say that the Embassy is filled with very talented Americans and Koreans.  Our staff work very hard all year round to contribute to the important relationship between our two countries, whether they deal with public outreach, consular services, political ties or economic policy.

As you may know, government pay is not comparable to the private sector, but I think and hope that my colleagues get gratification from the fact that they are helping to maintain and strengthen the special partnership between our two countries.  But beyond that gratification, we recognize people’s special extra efforts twice a year at an awards ceremony at our beautiful residence.

Getting started with the awards ceremony

Usually, we reward outstanding professional achievements with cash incentives.  But as you have probably seen in the news, the U.S. government has been coping with budget constraints in Washington.  So this year we are giving “Time-Off” Awards instead.  This way, our staff who have gone above and beyond are rewarded with a little extra vacation time, ranging from one to five days off. 

In addition to performance-based awards, we also recognize our colleagues’ length of service.  I’m constantly amazed by my colleagues who have dedicated their lives to working for the U.S. government.  At this awards ceremony, we actually recognized someone who has worked for the State Department for 35 years!

Group Awards!

Not to mention Individual Awards!

Another bonus of holding the Awards Ceremony is that they are a great occasion to bring together the whole Embassy in a friendly setting over snacks and drinks.  Not all of us work in the same building, or even in the same part of town, so this is a nice opportunity to see colleagues I don’t get to interact with on a regular basis.

Mingling time!

As the 60^th anniversary of our alliance, this year is particularly special in terms of U.S.-Korea relations.  With all the developments on the Peninsula, this has also been a challenging year.  But I am so proud to work alongside such committed colleagues who keep our ties strong.  Thanks again to all of them for their outstanding service!