Culture ministry launches global Facts About Korea volunteer group

The culture ministry said Thursday its 21st Facts About Korea volunteer group will begin work to identify and report erroneous overseas information about South Korea, with 40 young people drawn from 11 countries.

The launch ceremony was scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Korea Press Center. Members who live overseas will take part online.

The cohort comprises 28 Koreans and 12 foreign nationals selected during a five-week public call that began June 1. The ministry said foreign nationals made up more than 30 percent of participants for the first time.

Seventeen members live in countries including Indonesia, Britain and Turkey. The cohort includes people specializing in media communication, traditional music and fashion.

The volunteers will use the Facts About Korea service to flag inaccurate information and provide accurate information over the next five months. The service has operated as an integrated reporting channel for overseas errors since September 2016, and September will mark its 10th anniversary. The group plans short member videos and online events.

The initiative was launched in 2013 as the Global Error Correction Monitoring Group and has produced 784 members over the past decade. "This year is especially meaningful as the Facts About Korea service marks its 10th anniversary, so we have high expectations for the 21st group gathered from 11 countries worldwide," an official in the ministry's Public Communication Office said. The ministry plans to actively support the group's activities across borders and time zones.