Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu joined the Flower Bucket Challenge campaign on 28 April to help the flower industry struggling in the aftermath of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

President Chung will purchase flower buckets for the personnel from the National Health Insurance Service and the employees at the National Football Centre in Paju, who have worked hard at the community medical centre for COVID-19 patients with light symptoms. The flower buckets will also be delivered to the 29 teams participating in the K3 League and the K4 League, which will become the backbone of the Korean promotion/relegation system to be launched by the KFA this year.

The Flower Bucket Challenge is a campaign to support the floricultural farmhouses that have been struggling from the cancellation of major events such as graduations and school entrance ceremonies due to the pandemic.

President Chung said: “I think this is a small but meaningful gesture to help the flower industry, in order for us together to overcome the crisis caused by the COVID-19. I’m also glad to have the opportunity to express my gratitude for those who have worked hard to fight the disease at the community medical centre at the NFC in Paju.”

After consulting with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the KFA has provided the main building of the Paju NFC as the community medical centre for COVID-19 patients with light symptoms since 25 March.

President Chung also explained the reason for the delivery of flower buckets to the K3 and the K4 League teams, saying: “This is the very first year for us to establish an advanced promotion/relegation system. In this regard, I hope that the teams taking part in the inaugural seasons of the K3 and K4 League will become the backbone of the Korean model.”

Following the recommendation by the Korea Baseball Organisation (KBO) Commissioner Chung Un-chan to join the campaign, President Chung has nominated President Lee Kee-heung of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and President Bang Yeol of the Korea Basketball Association for the forthcoming challenges.