June 28, 2024

The Unification Culture Association (Chairman Lee Sang-yeop) announced on the 27th that it visited Kyrgyzstan and met with the country’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy, as well as the Vice President of the Kyrgyz Football Federation.

The meeting was held in advance of the “Dream 1004 Project,” in which 1,004 soccer balls will be donated to children in Kyrgyzstan during the upcoming Kimchi Festival in Bishkek this October.

Held at the Spartak Stadium in Bishkek, the meeting was attended by Chairman Lee Sang-yeop and representatives of the Unification Culture Association (Lee Chang-gi, Yoo Gi-won), Lee Chang-woo, President of the Korean Association in Kyrgyzstan, Deputy Minister Aybek Tynchtykbekovich of the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy, Vice President of the Kyrgyz Football Federation Mederbek Abdykalykbekovich, and International Affairs Officer Artur Aramaisovich.

During the meeting, Chairman Lee Sang-yeop presented a sample soccer ball and explained the goals of the “Dream 1004 Project,” aimed at giving dreams, hope, and courage to Kyrgyz children. He requested support for customs duty exemption for the soccer balls and asked for special consideration to ensure that children in underprivileged areas receive the donations.

Deputy Minister Tynchtykbekovich responded, “These soccer balls for children go beyond material support and will serve as a symbol of friendship and cultural exchange between our two countries. We hope for continued cultural cooperation in the future.”

Vice President Abdykalykbekovich added, “The soccer balls will not only improve the quality of life for children, but also bring them joy and hope.”

Lee Chang-woo, President of the Korean Association in Kyrgyzstan, who also attended the meeting, expressed, “We are delighted to participate in the Dream 1004 Soccer Ball Project, and I believe this initiative will greatly enhance the pride of Koreans and ethnic Koreans living in Kyrgyzstan.”

The Kimchi Festival, organized annually by the Korean Association in Kyrgyzstan, is the group’s most important event and a key cultural gathering for the Korean community. This year, the festival will take place on Saturday, October 19.

On the previous day, June 26, the Unification Culture Association signed a joint project agreement with the Korean Association in Kyrgyzstan and held a commemorative photo session.

Having completed the purchase of 1,004 soccer balls (including 251 air pumps) from Korean sports brand Nassau, the Unification Culture Association plans to ship them in early October with complimentary cargo support from T’way Air. Of the 1,004 soccer balls, 204 will be distributed to Korean diaspora groups, the Korean Association, King Sejong Institute, and NGOs as symbols of love from the Korean homeland. The remaining 800 will be delivered to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy.

With soccer rapidly gaining popularity in Kyrgyzstan?especially following the national team’s qualification for the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asia qualifiers?news of a Korean NGO delivering soccer balls to Kyrgyz children is attracting significant attention. Authorities see this as an opportunity for closer civilian-level relations between Korea and Kyrgyzstan in sports, arts, and beyond.

VIP News | Reporter Kang Se-a

Email: kseea2004@naver.com

Source: VIP News