UK Embassy plays soccer with NK defectors for charity

The British Embassy in Seoul, together with British citizens in Korea, participated in a sporting event Saturday to raise money for charity.

The United Kingdom’s diplomatic missions around the world and the public take part in the Sport Relief event biannually for charities of various purposes. 

This year, as part of the campaign, the local embassy staff and North Korea defectors played a friendly soccer match at Seoul Foreign School with the money raised going to the Eugene Bell Foundation -- a charity that sponsors programs, projects and exchanges in North Korea with a particular focus on medicine and the diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis. 

“Sport is inspirational. It breaks down barriers and brings people together, as we saw during the successful PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympics,” said British Ambassador to Korea Simon Smith, who participated in the game. “The British Embassy is delighted to bring together a team of British nationals and North Korea defectors for a Sports Relief game of football to raise money for charity.”

The envoy thanked event sponsors Hana Finance Group and Seoul Foreign School.

Those interested in donating can visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sportreliefbeseoul. The embassy also has a collection box at Broughton’s bar inside the compound. Those with ideas about raising money or contributing through other means can email mike.welch@fco.gov.uk.

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)