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Strategy and Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan (right) poses with Olympic gold medalist Yang Hak-seon after appointing him as a goodwill ambassador for the Economic Development Cooperation Fund, at Lotte Hotel, downtown Seoul, Sunday. (Yonhap News) |
London Olympic vault gold medalist Yang Hak-seon has been named a goodwill ambassador for the Economic Development Cooperation Fund.
The Ministry of Strategy and Finance said during the appointment ceremony Sunday that despite economic difficulty of his family, he persevered to bring Korea its first Olympic gymnastics gold medal in London this year.
Officials said that the ministry had appointed him as a publicity envy for the fund as his indomitable spirit matched the image of Korea, which has risen from one of the poorest countries to an aid donor.
“I would like to give young people of poor countries a message of hope and success,” Yang said during the ceremony, “I am proud to be the goodwill ambassador for the fund. I will try to promote the fund.”
EDCF was established in 1987 to assist the economic development of developing nations and foster economic exchanges with Korea. The fund supported a total of 277 projects in 49 countries in the fields of transportation, water resources, energy, education and public health last year.
By Chun Sung-woo (
swchun@heraldcorp.com)
