The KBS Open Concert for the IVI held in Seoul on January 15, 2008

The IVI, and the Korea Broadcasting System, the country’s largest broadcast network, teamed up to raise awareness about the IVI and to promote its mission to the Korean people through the broadcaster’s flagship music program, the “KBS Open Concert.”

Some 1,500 participants, including IVI staff and family members, donors, and foreign diplomats, got together at KBS Hall the evening of January 15 to enjoy music and meet with performers at the concert. The performers included IVI Goodwill Ambassador, Ms Yang Hee-eun, and Kim Jang-hoon, a singer who has earned the nickname, “Angel of Giving,” for his far-reaching philanthropy for the needy.

Ms. Yang urged the audience to join the IVI’s efforts to develop and introduce new vaccines for the world’s poorest children, saying that “As a singer, I find music is the best medium by which to support the IVI’s humanitarian efforts. You too can join these efforts through donations to the Institute.”  The hour-long concert, which was pre-recorded and aired across the country on KBS1 TV on January 20, widely promoted the IVI as the first international organization hosted by Korea.

Prior to the concert, IVI’s Director-General, Dr. John Clemens expressed his gratitude to the audience, and stressed the important contribution that Korea and its people have made to the dynamic growth of the IVI over the past decade. Part of a series of activities to commemorate the IVI’s 10th anniversary, the concert generated compliments and words of encouragement for the Seoul-based Institute by viewers.

Ms Joanne Lee, Special Advisor to the IVI Director-General who led the effort to hold the concert, said "The Korean people should be proud of their contributions to IVI´s global efforts to save and improve the lives of the world´s poorest children."