Korean Legendary Baseball Player Park Chan-ho Takes a Windup in Vietnam

As the goodwill ambassador of EDCF*, Park Chan-ho has visited Vietnam to take his first step forward in his new aim to bring baseball to developing countries around the world.

- The Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) was established by the Korean government in 1987 to promote economic exchanges with the developing world and to assist developing countries in achieving industrialization and economic stability through the provision of long-term, low-interest credit.

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (www.koreaexim.go.kr, Chairman Lee Duk-hoon, “Korea Eximbank”) announced on June 23 that Park Chan-ho, the first Korean-born MLB player, visited Vietnam's youth baseball club named "Hanoi Capitals" in Nam Trung Yen, Hanoi on June 19.

The visit was prepared for Park Chan-ho to practice talent donation by which he offers EDCF's spirit of sharing and inspires children to believe in themselves in making their dreams come true.

While EDCF focuses on building physical infrastructure through concessional loans, Park Chan-ho, in the same spirit, pursues to build intangible assets in developing countries through his talent donation.

Park Chan-ho gave gloves and sneakers to Hanoi Capitals' young baseball players and demonstrated pitching and personally taught baseball techniques to them.

Hanio Capitals is a free baseball club set up in 2008 by US lawyer Thomas Treutler in Vietnam where baseball was known to few to help children learn and enjoy baseball.

Park Chan-ho told his story about the hardship and success he went through in playing baseball in the US major league. He said, "I really hope Hanoi Capitals would be able to discover children with talents in baseball who will one day represent your own country's baseball." He continued, "I also wish Hanoi Capitals will perform to the best of your ability at the youth baseball tournaments to be held in Japan and the US in July and August, respectively."

In the previous day on the 18th, Park Chan-ho visited Ho Chi Minh city to give words of encouragement to Vietnam's national baseball team.

It is the second time Park has met with the team since their first encounter in July last year.

After delivering baseball equipment brought from Korea to the team, he said, "The last time I met you a year ago, I said I would soon visit you again. I am here to keep that promise." He added, "You may not be playing in the best environment. But don't ever give up and keep up your good work. I tell you, if you keep at it, some of you will find yourselves becoming one of the greatest baseball players in the baseball history of your country."

On June 20, Park attended the opening ceremony for the high way section from Hanoi to Haiphong with the Deputy Minister of Strategy and Finance Joo Hyung-hwan.

EDCF has provided USD 200 million in loans for the construction of the highway which is expected to play a pivotal role in developing northern Vietnam and facilitating logistics transportation across the country.