Seventeen members pose for photos with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, in this undated photo provided by Pledis Entertainment. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jun. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Boy group Seventeen will be named UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Youth, its agency said Tuesday.
It marks the first time UNESCO will designate a youth goodwill ambassador, and Seventeen will also become the first K-pop act to be appointed as official UNESCO goodwill ambassadors, according to Pledis Entertainment.
“Since its debut in 2015, the group has been engaging with global youth through music that chronicles its journey of growth,” the agency said, adding that the appointment is a testament to “the global recognition of the group’s influence.”
In November, Seventeen conveyed a message of solidarity and hope to young people worldwide during its address at a special session of the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum, a biennial event held in conjunction with the UNESCO General Assembly in Paris. Seventeen was the first K-pop act to address an entire session at a significant UNESCO meeting.
The group and UNESCO have been collaborating to promote the importance of education globally. Under the campaign, “Going Together,” it has built two regional education centers in East Timor and provided educational support to Malawi.
The group is scheduled to attend an appointment ceremony at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on June 26, where it is expected to deliver an acceptance speech.
(Yonhap)
