Members of a social club "Fans of Korean Dramas, Movies and Music"
in Japan pose with IVI scientist Leon Ochiai (third from left), and
Mr. Min Kyung-wan (far right), Advisor to the IVI Director-General for
Special Programs, during their visit to the IVI headquarters in Seoul on December 13, 2007.

Several donors to the IVI, who are members of a social club called “Fans of Korean Dramas, Movies and Music” in Japan, visited the IVI headquarters in Seoul during their visit to Korea on December 13.

These fans of Korean pop culture, called “Hallyu” or Korean Wave, had transferred a donation raised from its members to Mr. Min Kyung-wan, Advisor to the IVI Director-General for Special Programs, during an annual festival held in Osaka in October for ethnic Koreans living in Japan.

At the IVI, the Japanese guests were introduced to the IVI’s mission and activities, before taking a tour of its facilities. Recognizing the importance of the IVI’s role in developing and introducing new vaccines to the world’s poor, they expressed strong support for the IVI’s global humanitarian efforts.

Ms Hitaka Kyoko, the club’s chairwoman, said, “We are deeply impressed by the IVI’s crusade to help save and improve lives of impoverished children in developing countries,” adding, “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to support these efforts, and we will seek to make more contributions to the IVI and to promote the Institute in Japan.”