GNP lawmaker named KOICA honorary envoy

Rep. Hong Jung-wook of the ruling Grand National Party was appointed as an honorary public diplomacy envoy for the Korea International Cooperation Agency yesterday.

Hong, 39, a first-term Harvard-educated legislator, will take part in stressing the necessity and importance of grant-type aid projects with the state-run agency that aims to enhance global ties.



"Korea is a nation that has to make its expansion through foreign trade and live by diplomacy," he said. "The nation has made continuous efforts to create a livable environment for its people but it was short on putting forward works that could win the respect from other countries."

This is part of the reason Korea must increase grant-type aid programs, in terms of paying back what it has received in the past, he said.

Hong, also a member of the parliamentary foreign affairs, trade and unification committee, has shown keen interest in enabling Korea to offer greater contribution to the global community. He recently visited Mongolia to observe the KOICA`s aid program.

His effort to enhance foreign ties is expected to take speed as he was appointed last week to head a party committee on international affairs under GNP Chairman Chung Mong-joon`s leadership.

"Until now, Korea has only put its focus on constructing an affluent society. From now on, we should take on diverse projects, including offering more official development assistance programs, dispatching troops abroad and improving foreign workers` status in Korea as well as engaging in social responsibility programs that impact the international community," he said.

(sharon@heraldm.com)



By Cho Ji-hyun