By Roy Lie A Tjam.
H.E. Mr. Jonghyun Choe, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in the Netherlands hosted a farewell reception for the Korean ICTY Judge O-Gon Kwon at the Hotel Des Indes, Lange Voorhout, The Hague. The reception was held on the 4th March 2016, to celebrate Judge O-Gon Kwon’s 14,5 year service to the court.
In his address, Ambassador Jonghyun Choe recounted how while serving in New York he joined the campaign trail, canvassing to get Judge O-Gon Kwon elected to his position within the ICTY. In order to celebrate his success they went to the Korean restaurant in Manhattan, but now about 15 years later hosting a farewell reception for Judge O-Gon Kwon, to thank him for all his hard work and dedication to the ICTY.
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Judge O-Gon Kwon is the first Korean judge to be elected into the august office of international justice. O-Gon Kwon remarked how his time has flown by but prides himself on having served at the ICTY, the exceptional experience and the contributions he had been able to make to international criminal justice court.
Furthermore the Judge expressed his liking for The Hague and what it has to offer, it has become as a second-home.
In Korea he noted how judges are always rotating, which implies constant relocation. However in the Netherlands, during his last assignment he stayed put for almost 15 years! Judge O-Gon Kwon thanked his staff and his family for their help and support over the years and he will continue to be an advocate of International Criminal Justice.
Soprano Yun Park, who holds a masters degree from the Amsterdam Conservatory, gave a rendition of My Way. She gave Goosebumps to the audience, who spontaneously joined in at the chorus.
The atmosphere was tremendous, with a mixture of attendees with backgrounds in judiciary, diplomacy as well as other attendees including locals and Koreans. All in all an exceptional evening to say Farewell Judge O-Gon Kwon.
