Ambassador Krzysztof Ignacy Majka of the Republic of Poland to Korea received an honorary doctorate from Keimyung University at the Edward Adams Hall on April 17, 2014.
Ambassador Majka has greatly contributed to the promotion of economic, political, artistic, and cultural exchange between Korean and Poland.
Keimyung University has noted his numerous significant contributions, promoting economic, political, artistic, and cultural exchange between Korean and Poland. Ambassador Majka was particularly actively involved in the Korea-Poland summit and in resolving legal issues related to revising both nation’s export and import policies and laws.
Ambassador Majka was born in Gdansk, Poland in 1949 and obtained a Master's Degree in Engineering from the Faculty of Machine Construction at the Gdansk University of Technology. From 1979 to 1982 he worked as a junior researcher at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore under a Polish-Indian Cultural and Scientific Exchange Program. His stay culminated with his completion of a Doctoral Degree in Technical Science.
In 1993 he was appointed Consul and Head of the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Mumbai. There, he earned the Indian Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence Award by helping to strengthen political and economic ties between Poland and India. The Maharashtra UN Association then awarded him for Services Rendered to the Promotion of UN Ideals, Peace and International Cooperation on the 50th Anniversary of the United Nation’s establishment.
As a Senator in the fourth term of the Republic of Poland’s Senate from 1997 to 2001 he served as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Committee, as Deputy Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of the Republic of Poland-European Union, and as a Member of Environment Protection Committee. From 2000 to 2001 he was an active member of the President of Poland’s Reflective Group and was awarded in 2000 for outstanding services rendered towards European Union Enlargement.
He served as Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to India, jointly accredited to the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka from November 12th, 2001 to May 15th, 2008, and in Warsaw as Deputy Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of Asia and the Pacific from September 15th, 2008 to January 10th, 2011. He currently serves as Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Korea.
President Dr. Synn Ilhi of Keimyung University remarked that “It will be an uncommon pleasure for me to confer upon H.E. Mr. Krzysztof Ignacy Majka, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Korea, the degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris causa. He has established the Office of the Honorary Consulate General of Poland in Daegu, as Poland’s only consulate in Korea and the sole honorary consulate general of any foreign country to serve this region of over five million people. Ambassador Majka truly understands the cultural, political and economic importance of the City of Daegu and the Province of Gyeongbuk."
President Synn emphasized the meaning of the degree remarking that "Ambassador Majka is without doubt an outstanding scientist, dedicated diplomat and trusted politician. The most compelling aspect of his life, however, is his enlightened and humane character. It is this Polish gentleman of culture and of the laws of professional ethics whom we wish to honor with our most sincere respect and admiration."
The program of the ceremony was as follows:
Opening Remarks (Prof. Choi B. K., Dean of Graduate School); Scripture Reading and Prayer (Prof. Hwang J. B., Dean of the Chapel); Recommendation (Prof. Choi B. K., Dean of Graduate School); Conferral of Degree (Prof. Synn Ilhi, President); Laudatio (Prof. Synn Ilhi, President); Salutatio (Dr. Krzysztof Ignacy Majka, Degree Recipient); Gratulatio (H.E. Dato Haji Harun Ismail, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in the Republic of Korea; Dr. Han S. H., Hon. President of Pro Polonia); Congratulatory Performance (Prof. Lim D. M., Piano); Congratulatory Songs (Prof. Ha S. B., Tenor; Prof. Lee H. Y., Soprano; Prof. Lee S. W., Piano); Alma Mater; Benediction (Rev. Dr. Chong S. M., Chairman, Board of Trustees); Closing Remarks (Prof. Choi B. K., Dean of Graduate School).