In the presence of the Minister of Education and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Award,
Celebrating the Winners of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation in Seoul
The Korean capital, Seoul, hosted the award ceremony for the eleventh edition of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation today. The ceremony was held at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, in the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Education, Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan; His Excellency the Acting Chairman of the Award's Board of Trustees and General Supervisor of the King Abdulaziz Public Library, Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar; and Hankuk University President Park Jeong-Woon, along with a group of academics and intellectuals.
At the beginning of the ceremony, His Excellency the Minister of Education delivered a speech highlighting the importance of this cultural and scientific gathering as a testament to the Kingdom's dedication to advancing science and knowledge. Under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, this dedication is reflected through various initiatives designed to enhance knowledge. This dedication is in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims for a promising future grounded in investment in people and science and seeks to strengthen the Kingdom's presence across a range of fields.
Al-Benyan clarified that this year's celebration of the award winners in Korea is part of the joint Saudi-Korean vision, in cooperation with Hankuk University, to embody the values of human communication and constructive cultural interaction between nations. He emphasized that translation is one of the greatest bridges of understanding between people of the world, serving as a tool for promoting respect and openness to different cultures.
He called on universities, research centers, and scientific chairs to prioritize translation initiatives by converting substantial research and studies from various languages around the globe. This initiative aims to strengthen the development of local scientific content and support the Kingdom's efforts in transitioning to a knowledge-based economy.
For his part, His Excellency Mr. Faisal bin Muammar expressed pride in the expansion of this global knowledge project into East Asia, emphasizing that translation fosters human understanding and serves as a bridge across geographical, linguistic, and cultural borders.
In his speech, Ibn Muammar outlined the various stages of establishing the award and discussed its evolving cognitive and cultural visions. This initiative reflects one of the strategies employed by the King Abdulaziz Public Library to honor the contributions of translation and translators, highlighting the global recognition that the award has achieved.
His Excellency highlighted the decision made by the Award's Board of Trustees to establish a new category titled "Translation in the Field of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies." This initiative, which commenced with the twelfth session, aims to anticipate future trends and align with ongoing technological advancements.
Hankuk University President Park Jeong-Noon expressed his pride in hosting the ceremony, emphasizing that the award highlights the crucial role of translation in linking cultures and fostering mutual understanding. He noted that Hankuk University, established in 1954, is the leading institution in Korea for language education, offering courses in 45 languages. This includes Arabic, which has been taught for sixty years and has played a significant role in enhancing interactions between Korea and the Arab world, particularly with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Secretary-General of the Award, Dr. Saeed bin Fayez Al-Saeed, delivered a speech reviewing the Award's journey since its inception. He emphasized the cultural and cognitive value of translation and its vital role in fostering cultural and human interaction among peoples. He noted that the award serves as a global platform for celebrating significant scientific efforts and contributes to promoting intellectual dialogue and the exchange of ideas between diverse cultures. Additionally, he praised the Kingdom's pioneering role in supporting knowledge initiatives.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the winners of the award across its various categories were honored. The recipients include: Dr. Nayef bin Sultan Al-Harbi and Dr. Jamal Mohammed Ali Khaled, recognized for their translation of the book Forensic Microbiology (Natural Sciences category, from other languages into Arabic); Dr. Mansour Hassan Al-Shehri, honored for translating Modeling and Mechanics of Nanostructured Carbon-Based Materials (Natural Sciences category, from other languages into Arabic); Dr. Zaido Gabriel Mohammed, acknowledged for translating Al-Hariri's Maqamat from Arabic into Hausa (Humanities category, from Arabic to other languages); Dr. Fouad Al-Dwash and Dr. Mustafa Al-Hadibi, who translated Psychology of Pandemics (Humanities category, from other languages into Arabic); and Dr. Bassam Baraka and Dr. Ali Najib Ibrahim, recognized for their work on the Dictionary of Aesthetics (Humanities category, from other languages into Arabic).
In the Individual Efforts category, Dr. Mohamed Al-Dedawi (Austrian), Professor Wang Peiwen (Chinese), and Professor Persa George Koumoutsi (Greek) have received awards.
The award was withheld in the Natural Sciences (Arabic to Other Languages) and Institutional and Organizational Efforts categories because the nominated works did not meet the required criteria.
