The Export-Import Bank of Korea (www.koreaexim.go.kr “Korea Eximbank”) announced on March 5 that the bank donated KRW 40 million to resettled North Korean Boxer Choi Hyun-mi who will be defending her super featherweight world champion title on April 29.

Korea Eximbank Deputy President (and Acting Chairman) Nam Ki-sub visited the gym where Ms. Choi is based to personally deliver the donation.

Deputy President Nam remarked at the occasion, “The story of Ms. Choi, who overcame all odds to become the pride of our nation, is an inspiration to every resettled North Korean youth living in this country. We look forward to the sustained interest and support of the public for Ms. Choi’s successful title defense, and more broadly for the flourishing of Korean women’s boxing.”

Born in Pyongyang, Choi Hyun-mi escaped from North Korea in 2004 to start a new life in South Korea.

In 2008, she became the World Boxing Association (WBA) women’s featherweight champion. She subsequently challenged and defeated the women’s super featherweight champion Fujin Raika (Japan), nicknamed “the God of Wind”, on last year’s Korean Independence Day.

The bank nominated Choi Hyun-mi as a goodwill ambassador for the bank’s pro-bono program Seed of Hope in August 2013 and is providing her with KRW 50 million a year in athletic scholarship money and cost coverage for her title defense matches.

As the trustee of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund (IKCF), Korea Eximbank has been continually engaged in pro-bono activities targeting resettled North Koreans.

Last year, the bank donated KRW 350 million to organizations and events related to resettled North Koreans such as 8 alternative schools, a job search training program, a culture and art festival, and a group home for resettled North Korean youths.