Park Chan-ho, the first Korean player in Major League Baseball (MLB), was named a goodwill ambassador for Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (www.koreaexim.go.kr, Chairman Lee Duk-hoon, “Korea Eximbank”) announced that it held a Goodwill Ambassador appointment ceremony for Park Chan-ho on July 25 in the auditorium of the bank's head office in Yeouido, Seoul.
The ceremony was attended by about 300 people, including Chairman Lee Duk-hoon of Korea Eximbank, 1st Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho, Director-General Yoon Tae-yong of the International Economic Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and employees of Korea Eximbank.

Park Chan-ho is the first Korean baseball player to join the US major leagues, and gave hope and inspiration to millions of Koreans at the time of the East Asian financial crisis.
Park played for the LA Dodgers as starter from 1997 to 2001, winning an annual average of 15 games with his 160km per hour fastballs. With a total of 124 wins over his 17-year career in the MLB, Park retains the record of most wins by an Asian-born pitcher.

Having re-written baseball history with his indomitable spirit, Park is now joining EDCF to help spread Korea’s development experience and know-how to developing countries.
After receiving the letter of appointment, Park said "I want to share with young people in developing countries the passion and spirit that made me pursue my dream and never give up. I will also do my best to publicize the achievements of EDCF in supporting the growth of developing countries."

Korea Eximbank Chairman Lee Duk-hoon remarked at the ceremony, "I am very glad that Mr. Park Chan-ho who retired as a national baseball star is starting his second life with EDCF. From now on, I hope he represents Korea as a national ODA player."

In similar vein, 1st Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho remarked, "The meeting of Park Chan-ho and EDCF will bring fresh hope to developing countries seeking to emulate Korea's economic miracle. As a relief pitcher for developing countries in their quest for growth, EDCF will continue to enhance the development effectiveness of its programs by combining funding for infrastructure projects with the sharing of development know-how and experience."

Park will be sharing his unpaid honorary position as EDCF's Goodwill Ambassador with Yang Hak-seon, Korea's first gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal.