President Lee Myung-bak celebrates the launch of World Friends Korea, a group of overseas volunteers, in a ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae in this photo taken last May. / Courtesy of the Presidential Council on Nation Branding
The nation launched World Friends Korea, the Korean version of the Peace Corps in the United States, in early May to strengthen volunteer activities in underdeveloped and developing countries around the world.
It represents Korea's efforts to become a more responsible member of the international community.
The number of volunteers is expected to grow to over 3,000 by the year's end. Currently, the U.S. is the only country that sends more than 3,000 volunteers abroad annually.
Chairman Euh Yoon-dae of the Presidential Council on Nation Branding hoped such efforts will help Korea become a respected and beloved nation.
The volunteers will work with governments, schools, non-profit organizations and businessmen in various areas, including education, the environment, agriculture and information technology. They will also play an important role in promoting Korea's culture and food around the world, officials said.
``You can call World Friends Korea the unified brand of the country's overseas volunteer activities,'' Euh said. ``So far, government agencies have had their own volunteer programs in foreign countries, but from now on they will work together under a shared goal. My council will help coordinate their activities.''
World Friends Korea will include volunteers who belong to the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
In addition to the government-run volunteer programs, those run by religious and civic groups will also get full support from the administration.
The number of volunteers has sharply increased since 2004.
According to KOICA, there are two factors behind the big jump ― the government's increased interest in overseas development projects and rising youth unemployment.
The expansion of overseas volunteering is one of the 10 goals the presidential branding council adopted to upgrade the nation's global image.
The council was created in January on the instruction of President Lee Myung-bak.
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