FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 11, 2006 (KST)


Cho Yong-pil, King of Korean pop music, launches national concert tour for IVI

Singer Cho Yong-pil, dubbed "the King of Korean pop music," has launched a national tour of concerts for IVI with the slogan "Vaccines to Save the World's Children," starting with the first event on April 22 in Bucheon, west of Seoul.

Mr. Cho is committed to promoting IVI to the public throughout the tour, which will take him to at least ten major cities across Korea this year. He also agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds from the concerts to IVI.

Mr. Cho is considered one of the greatest artists in Korea's pop music history. He has enjoyed immense popularity since the late 1970s, with many of his hundreds of songs becoming hits. His live concerts continue to attract tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans each year.

"I only recently learned that millions of children in developing countries are dying of diseases. I feel very proud that the IVI, an international organization based in Korea, is leading the efforts to save these children through vaccines," Mr. Cho said. "Let's help IVI save lives. After all you are supporters of these children and the IVI," the 56-year-old artist told crowds of fans in the Bucheon concert.

The concert tour is hosted by the IVI, and supported jointly by the Korea Support Committee for IVI, Green Cross Korea, and TheTeam Communication, an IVI Giving Club member. Ms. Joanne Lee, who is leading the fundraising campaign for the IVI, said, "Mr. Cho's concert tour is sure to give a big boost to the on-going efforts to enhance public awareness of the IVI within Korea," praising the singer's commitment and generosity. For more information, please contact +82-2-881-1180, 1123, or jsohn@ivi.int.

Concert tour schedule
*The schedule is subject to change.

No. Location Date (2006) Performing Place 1 Bucheon April 22 Indoor Gymnasium 2 Jeju-do May 7 Tamna Hall 3 Anyang May 13 (postponed) Indoor Gymnasium 4 Cheonan May 20 Yoo Gwan Soon Gymnasium 5 Jeonju May 27 Korean Sori (Song) Culture Center 6 Changwon June 3 Convention Center 7 Gumi June 10 Park Chung Hee Gymnasium 8 Ulsan September 9 Dongcheon Gymnasium 9 Gangeung September 23 Ice Skating Link 10 Chungju October 21 Indoor Gymnasium 11 Suwon October 28 Indoor Gymnasium 12 Daegu November 11 Indoor Gymnasium 13 Daejeon November 18 Trade Exhibition Center 14 Seoul December 8~ 9 Jamsil Gymnasium