Honolulu: Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, has been honored with an honorary Korean name and a Taekwondo black belt by the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation, officials announced on Monday. During their visit to the command in Hawaii on Friday, members of the foundation presented Paparo with the name Seo Hae-seong and an honorary 7th degree black belt.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the honorary name Seo Hae-seong is symbolic, signifying the vastness of the sea and the brightness of a star. It reflects the hopes of the foundation that Adm. Paparo will continue to lead his troops to victory across the vast Indo-Pacific region. The foundation is known for bestowing Korean names upon top U.S. military leaders as a gesture of appreciation for their service and commitment.

Adm. Paparo expressed his gratitude for receiving both the honorary name and belt, emphasizing the strong ties between South Korea and the United States. He stated that the South Korea-U.S. alliance remains robust and resilient, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation between the two nations. This recognition is part of a longstanding tradition by the foundation to honor U.S. military leaders for their efforts in strengthening the alliance.