SEOUL, May 23 (AJU PRESS) - Actress Cha Ye-ryun was appointed as a promotional ambassador for an event to raise awareness of the benefits of yoga to be held in Seoul next month.
Organizers for the 10th United Nations International Day of Yoga in Korea announced the appointment of the actress to promote the spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. The announcement was made about a month ahead of the event, at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, attended by the Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Seoul Nishi Kant Singh. Cheon Jun-pil, chairman of the Korea Yoga Association and Kim Sung-il, chairman of the organizing committee for the event were also present.
The annual International Day of Yoga has been celebrated globally since June 21, 2015, after being recognized by the UN General Assembly in 2014. It is said that more than 300 million people practice yoga regularly, as of last year. The ancient Indian practice is popular in both urban and rural areas as it is easy to practice anywhere without any equipment or tools, requiring only minimal space.
"I believe yoga is a practice that cleanses the heart and mind. I feel my body getting healthier with every breath," Cha said, expressing her enthusiasm for promoting the traditional Indian practice.
"Yoga helps us discover a sense of oneness with ourselves, the world, and nature around us," said Kumar in his opening speech.
The ambassador highlighted yoga's importance in modern life. "In today's fast-paced world, yoga's relevance has only increased. It's a holistic approach valuable to our health and well-being," Kumar noted. He added, "Yoga is also recognized globally for addressing lifestyle diseases and stress. During the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga helped manage mental anxiety and improve mental health."
The event will be held at COEX in Seoul's southern district of Gangnam on June 22. Additional similar Yoga Day events will also take place later this year on Jeju Island, in the southern port city of Busan, and on Nami Island, a popular destination for avid fans of Korean soaps.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
