On his way to Washington for a ROK-US Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan will visit New York June 21-23 to attend a ceremony in which to name Hines E. Ward, a Pittsburgh Steelers football player, as Goodwill Ambassador for KORUS Future Vision; and to meet with the leadership of the Korea Society, including Chairman of its Board of Directors Thomas Hubbard and President Mark Minton, as well as local Koreans. The appointment of a Korean-American, top football star Ward, in particular, has been pursued to solidify the foundation of the ROK-US ties through not only inter-governmental but also people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries.
During one year from June 21, the date of his official (extendable) appointment, Goodwill Ambassador Ward will carry out a variety of promotional activities aimed at facilitating development of future-oriented ROK-US ties; help with major events involving any Korean diplomatic mission or Koreans in the US; and provide advice in planning events related to ROK-US ties. Meanwhile, the meeting with the leadership of the Korea Society, scheduled for June 22, is expected to serve as a valuable opportunity to improve Korea's image in the US, assess the Society's work for an early ratification of the KORUS FTA, and discuss ways for future cooperation.
