Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi heads for Hawaii, Seoul

Yangon - Myanmar opposition leader and former political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi departed Thursday for the United States and South Korea to accept more prizes for her struggle for democracy and peace.

Suu Kyi, 67, flew first to Honolulu, where she is to meet Myanmar families, give a speech at the Rotary International club’s Global Peace Forum and accept the Hawaii Rotary Global Peace Award, said members of her National League for Democracy opposition party.

The Nobel laureate plans to arrive January 28 in South Korea, where she is to meet President Park Geun Hye, attend the opening session of the Pyeonchang Special Olympics, speak to the Global Development Summit and accept the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights before returning to Myanmar on February 1.

Suu Kyi has travelled abroad frequent since she entered mainstream politics last year after winning a parliamentary seat. In 2012, she visited Thailand, five European countries, the United States and India, making speeches and picking up awards at each stop.

Suu Kyi is one of the world’s most recognized political figures. In 1991, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her role in leading a peaceful struggle for democracy in military-ruled Myanmar, which earned her a total of 15 years under house detention between 1989 and 2010.

Suu Kyi was freed in November 2010, less than a week after the country’s first general election in two decades was held.//DPA