Park Chan-ho, the first South Korean-born baseball player in major league history, has been named a goodwill ambassador for EDCF*.

* The Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) was established by the Korean government in 1987 to promote economic exchanges and to assist developing countries in achieving industrialization and economic stability through the provision of long-term, low-interest credit. Korea Eximbank currently manages the fund as its trustee.

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (www.koreaexim.go.kr, Chairman Lee Duk-hoon, “Korea Eximbank”) announced that his appointment ceremony took place at Korea Eximbank’s headquarters on July 25.

About 300 people attended the ceremony. Among the attendants were Korea Eximbank Chairman Lee Duk-hoon, Deputy Minister of Strategy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho, and Director General for the International Economic Affairs Bureau at MOSF Yoon Tae-yong.

Park Chan-ho, appointed as the EDCF goodwill ambassador, is the first Korean baseball player that has played in the major league. When Korea was hit by the Asian financial crisis, he was the source of dreams and hopes to all Koreans that were enduring the hardship.

Park Chan-ho played for the LA Dodgers from 1997 to 2001. As a starting pitcher, he threw the baseball at speeds up to 160 km/hour. Known as a power pitcher, he obtained a total of 124 wins over 17 years in the major league, recording 15 wins on annual average and building a reputation as the Asian pitcher with the most career wins.

Thanks to his unyielding, ever-challenging spirit, Park Chan-ho left a mark in baseball history and now is volunteering to take part in spreading Korea’s development knowhow and experiences to developing countries.

Upon receiving the letter of appointment, Park said, “I hope to share with the young people in developing countries the passion to pursue one’s dreams and the strong will that never gives up.” He added, “I will do my best to share with as many people as possible what EDCF is doing to support the economic growth in developing countries.”

At the ceremony, Chairman Lee said, “It is a great pleasure for us that Park Chan-ho has decided to open up a new chapter in life with EDCF, after retiring from baseball. It is my wish that he will represent Korea like the national team player for ODA.”

Deputy Minister Choo Kyung-ho also remarked, “This connection between Chan-ho Park and EDCF will be a beacon of new hope and potential for the developing countries that aspire to become the next Korea.” He added, “EDCF wants to become a reliever for the economic growth in developing countries by supporting economic and social infrastructure development. We will continue to enhance development effectiveness by sharing Korea’s development knowhow and experiences with the world.”

Park Chan-ho will serve as an honorary goodwill ambassador together with the current EDCF goodwill ambassador Yang Hak-seon, an Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics.