Park encourages young volunteers

President Park Geun-hye yesterday met with a group of young volunteers before they left for projects overseas and encouraged their efforts.

According to the Blue House, about 150 members of the World Friends Korea, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica), visited the Blue House for the launch ceremony of their 2013 project. The group is the first batch of about 4,500 youngsters to participate in volunteer missions around the world.

At the meeting, Park said she has high expectations for them to become global leaders based on their experience and contribute to the country. She also stressed the importance of Korea sharing its expertise in economic growth and modernization with developing countries.

The Blue House said it was Park’s first meeting with youngsters since she took office and the president had an opportunity to have candid conversations with them about their thoughts on their future.

A presidential aide said yesterday that the project is important because it helps Korean youngsters to broaden their horizon to the world to find more creative employment opportunities. Some volunteers who participated in the World Friends Korea programs in the past already found jobs overseas in line with their volunteer programs and support other youngsters as mentors, the Blue House said.

Since 1990, the Foreign Ministry sent a total of 10,000 volunteers through Koica on a mission to foster global leaders. Since 2009, the government’s overseas volunteer programs at different ministries were integrated under the World Friends Korea.

The Blue House said a total of 250,000 volunteers will be dispatched abroad over the next five years, the second-largest number in the world after the United States’ Peace Corps.

By Ser Myo-ja [myoja@joongang.co.kr]