Head of Presidential Staff Office Teten Masduki said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has received the Asia Journalists Association (AJA) Award 2016 for Asia’s Inspirational Figure in 2016 during his visit to South Korea from May 15-18.

“In South Korea, President Joko Widodo received the Asia Journalists Association’s award for being an inspirational figure in Asia in 2016,” Masduki stated at a press conference at the VVIP room of Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport on Saturday.

He pointed out that an assessment about who could be the recipient of the award was conducted in April 2016.

Moreover, Masduki also informed that President Joko Widodo also spoke to some South Korean people, especially those looking for an Asian figure with leadership qualities and an ability to inspire the young people.

According to Masduki, the Seoul City Government also conferred upon President Jokowi honorary citizenship of the city.

“Apart from meeting with the President of the Republic of Korea, Park Geun-hye, President Jokowi also met a number of politicians in the country,” he elaborated.

The President also met the governor of Seoul, several other governors in the country and South Korean people.

On the AJA’s official website, www.ajanews.asia, AJA wrote, “The President of Indonesia Joko Widodo has been highly deemed to have developed Indonesia as `the role model country of Asia’ through economic reforms ever since he was inaugurated as the president. Meanwhile, the member of National Assembly, Lee Jasmine, showed great achievement in dealing with minority issues and diverse culture in Korean society.”