Singer John Park has been appointed a goodwill ambassador to help promote the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ campaign for poverty reduction by raising funds from airline taxes.

First established in 2007, a fund is raised by charging a W1,000 (US$1=W1,131) tax on each passenger who takes an outbound flight overseas. The fund has raised W15 billion a year on average. The annually collected fund goes to non-profit organizations and the Korea International Cooperation Agency, a state-run aid organization, which uses the fund to help fight poverty and disease in African countries.

A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade stated that the reason for John Park’s appointment was due to his kind image that best suited the purpose of giving hope to the poor countries in Africa.

Meanwhile, John Park’s agency revealed that the singer is extremely grateful for the appointment and will participate wholeheartedly in the activities that will be planned for him. John Park officially started his duties as the honorary ambassador with the ‘International Poverty-Reduction Contribution Happy Flight Campaign’ held at Incheon International Airport on July 31st.