United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday praised Korean relief groups and workers for their efforts to help needy children around the world.

Ban acknowledged the rapid growth and brisk activities of the Korean committee for the U.N. Children’s Fund, better known as UNICEF, during a visit to its office in central Seoul.

“I’d pick UNICEF and UNDP as two representative U.N. organs, because they have the longest histories and help needy people in the nearest distance,” he said, referring to the multinational agency’s global development network.

“You’ve already passed the phase where you only think of Korean children. In need of greater interest and support are not only children in the global village but also those in North Korea.”

The committee aims to raise $76 million this year and has secured more than 300,000 regular donors.

During the visit, he also made rag dolls with children and delivered an undisclosed amount of funds to UNICEF officials here.

A Korean native, Ban arrived here on Saturday for a four-day stay. He attended the closing ceremony of the Yeosu Expo on the country’s southern coast, met with government officials and gave speeches at other conferences and events in Seoul.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)