1. Former Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva Choi Seok-young has been appointed as a member of the Advisory Group to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for the 2015-2016 term.

o He is the third Korean to be appointed to the Advisory Group after Ambassador Park Soo-gil (2006-2009) and relief worker Han Bi-ya (October 2011-October 2014).

2. The Central Emergency Response Fund was created to swiftly provide relief funds in the initial phases of disasters by using funds raised through contributions from each country. Eighteen members of the Advisory Group, selected by the UN Secretary-General, make various recommendations, including on how to use the Fund effectively.

o The ROK has contributed a total of 33.5 million US dollars since the CERF was launched in 2006.

3. The UN selected former Ambassador Choi Seok-young as a member of the Advisory Group, taking into account various factors, including his ample experience in activities related to humanitarian assistance, and international recognition which he has gained through activities in the councils of international organizations.

o Former Ambassador Choi, who is a career diplomat, served as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Chair of the Council for Trade in Services of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

4. Former Ambassador Choi’s appointment as a member of the Advisory Group, which is playing a key role in advising the international community on humanitarian crisis-related policies, is expected to contribute to strengthening humanitarian diplomacy, which the ROK government is pursuing.


*unofficial translation