On May 29, 2018, a Memorandum was signed between the International Charity Foundation (ICF) represented by Amb. Dho Young-shim, Chairman of ICF and UN SDGs Advocate, and the company Brand Builders, represented by Ms. Sarah Jihyeon KIm, for the joint promotion of K-Beauty and Korean cosmetics companies abroad, and the financial support of these companies to ICF as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. The MoU signing as witnessed by Ms. Catherine GERMIER-HAMEL, Founder & CEO of Millennium Destinations, and ICF Advisory Consultant. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)s Executive Council held its 108th meeting in San Sebastian, Spain, on May 23-25, 2018. Amb. DHO Young-shim, UN SDGs Advocate and Chairperson of the International Charity Foundation, together with the Director of the Tourism Policy Bureau of the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, took this opportunity to promote PyeongChang County and Gangwon Province in Korea, which have successfully hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and have become international tourist destinations. In addition, the Minister of Tourism of Argentina and President of the Executive Council, Gustavo Santos, received the 2018 PyeongChang mascots "Soohorang" and "Ban Dhabi". Cooperation on Sustainable Tourism for Economic Progress between PATA and Woljeongsa Temple5/19/2018 On May 19, 2018, Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Rev. Jeongnyeom, Abbott of Woljeongsa Temple in Gangwon Province, Korea, had a meeting in order to explore partnership opportunities in relation with tourism development for economic progress in Korea, including North Korea. As a result, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between PATA and Woljeongsa Temple for future cooperation on sustainable tourism, particularly in PyeongChang County, Gangwon Province. The meeting was arranged by Amb. Dho Young-shim, UN SDGs Advocate and Chairperson of the International Charity Foundation (ICF), with the participation of H.E. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica, Dr. Taleb Rifai, former UNWTO Secretary-General (2010-2017), and Dr. Francesco Frangialli, former UNWTO Secretary-General (1997-2009). The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) had its Annual Summit 2018 in the Olympic city of Gangneung, Korea, on May 17-20, 2018, and was culminated by a global Conference on “Building Bridges, Connecting People”, how collaboration creates opportunities” (May 18). Amb. Dho Young-shim, UN SDGs Advocate and Chairperson of the International Charity Foundation (ICF), panelist of the first session of the Conference “Connecting Communities: Harmonising Local Interests with Global Sustainability in Tourism Development”. PATA Annual was successfully hosted by the Korea Tourism Organization and Gangwon Province, with the strong and active support of Amb. Dho Young-shim, who has been instrumental in securing the presence of prominent speakers and thought leaders, including: H.E. Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, Dr. Taleb Rifai, Former UNWTO Secretary-General (2010-2017), and Dr. Francesco Frangialli Former UNWTO Secretary-General. On May 19, Amb. Dho was formerly appointed Special PATA Advisor by Dr Mario Hardy, CEO of PATA. On May 17th, Amb. Dho Young-shim, UN SDGs Advocate and Chairperson of the International Charity Foundation (ICF) organized a high-level meeting between Samsung and a foreign delegation composed of H.E. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica, H.E. Wylbur Simuusa Ambassador or Zambia to the Republic of Korea, and Dr. Francesco Frangialli, Former Secretary-General of the World tourism Organization (UNWTO). The meeting took place at Samsung Innovation Museum and was focused on Public-Private Partnership, Innovation and Smart technologies for Sustainable Tourism Development. The 9th Asian Leadership Forum was hosted in Seoul by top Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, on May 16-17, 2018, under the theme “Globalization in Crisis: Navigating the World with New Opportunities”. On May 16th, Amb. Dho Young-shim, UN SDGs Advocate and Chairperson of the International Charity Foundation (ICF), moderated the panel on “Tourism: New Growth Engine for Sustainable Development”, within the framework of the session “Opportunity for Sustainable Growth”. Panelists included H.E. Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, H.E. Dr. Taleb Rifai, former Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), H.E. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica, H.E. José Manuel Soria, former Minister of Tourism, Spain, and Dr. Mario Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). On April 27, 2018 at the New York City Library, United States, the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and its partners brought together development and education leaders to mark a major milestone – securing the final commitments needed to enroll 10 million children out of school and marginalized in quality basic education. Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser of Qatar, UN SDGs Advocate, and Founder and Chair of the EAA Foundation, announced that those 10 million children, living in the most dreadful environments around the world, would be enrolled and educated in accordance with EAA’s commitments in 2012, through the Educate A Child (EAC) programme. Amb. Dho Young-shim, UN SDGs Advocate and Chairperson of ICF, attended this event and took this opportunity to promote the UN SDGs Ball, a awareness-raising and educational initiative led by Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg, co-Chair of the UN SDGs Advocacy Group. As part of its activities aimed at fostering friendly and mutually beneficial relationships between Korea and other countries, the International Charity Foundation (ICF) has been instrumental in launching the K-Beauty initiative in order to support cooperation between Korean and overseas cosmetics companies. Within this framework, and at the initiative of Amb. Dho Young-shim, UN SDGs Advocate and Chairperson of ICF, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in April 2018 between ICF and Korean cosmetics companies so that they provide A K-Beauty Showcase will take place in Madrid, Spain, on June 7, 2018. Amb. Dho Young-shim, UN SDGs Advocate and Chairperson of International Charity Foundation (ICF) had a meeting in New-York with H.E. Cho Tae-yul, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations on April 26, 2018. This meeting was an opportunity to discuss how ICF could play an instrumental role in promoting development peace, and social inclusiveness at global level. The meeting happened one day before Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, as a first step towards the end of the war between them. On behalf of the co-Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) Advocacy Group, H.E. Ms. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway, Amb. Dho Young-shim, UN SDGs Advocate and Chairperson of the International Charity Fund (ICF), promoted the UN SDGs Ball initiative during her mission in New-York on April 25 to 29, 2018. This initiative is part of a communication campaign spearheaded by UN SDGs Advocate Erna Solberg, aimed at raising awareness of the SDGs using a very universal and popular educational tool: UN SDG branded footballs. Amb. Dho took the opportunity to involve high-level UN representatives in NY, such as Ms. Michelle Gyles-McDonnough (Jamaica), Director of the Sustainable Development Unit, Executive Office of the Secretary-General at the United Nations. | ArchivesAugust 2026 |