Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) Director Kim Jangho (sixth from left) on July 5 takes a photo with THE BOYZ after the boy band's appointment as promotional ambassadors for Korean culture at a ceremony held at KOCIS Center in Seoul's Jung-gu District. From left are Younghoon, Q, Ju Haknyeon, Hyunjae, Sunwoo, Director Kim, Sangyeon, Juyeon, Eric, New, Kevin and Jacob.

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova
Photos = Kim Sunjoo

The 11-member K-pop group THE BOYZ will promote Korean culture abroad as this year's promotional ambassador of the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS).

KOCIS, an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on July 5 officially appointed the boy band to the post at KOCIS Center in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

Succeeding CRAVITY, THE BOYZ will start their activities by promoting Talk Talk Korea, an annual global contest of Korea-related content, and engage in activities to spread Korean culture and Hallyu (Korean Wave) content worldwide.

"The activities of the overseas promotional ambassador for Korean culture have kept raising not just the contest but also the profile of K-Content and global interest in Korean culture over all this time," KOCIS Director Kim Jangho said at the appointment ceremony. "We look forward to brisk promotional activities this year by THE BOYZ."

KOCIS Director Kim Jangho (left) on July 5 gives a certificate of appointment to The Boyz leader Sangyeon after the group was named this year's promotional ambassador for spreading Korean culture abroad at KOCIS Center in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

"Thank you very much for appointing THE BOYZ as the overseas promotional ambassador for Korean culture," the group's leader Sangyeon said. "Because of our appointment, we will strive to inform the world of Korean culture."

The ceremony was livestreamed from 10:30 Korean Standard Time on Korea.net's official YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/GatewaytoKorea). The number of viewers peaked at 2,481 and the cumulative view count reached 4,146.

Twenty Korea.net Honorary Reporters and K-influencers attended the event in person and shared vivid scenes of it across the world through their social media channels.

Debuting in December 2017, THE BOYZ have grown popular among K-pop acts both at home and abroad through their songs such as "Thrill Ride," "Reveal" and "The Stealer."

aisylu@korea.kr