American National Football League star Hines Ward says he will try his best to maintain and further develop friendly relations between South Korea and the United States.

Ward made the pledge on Tuesday when he received a letter of appointment for the post of publicity ambassador for South Korea-U.S. relations. Ward received the notice from Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan at the South Korean Consulate General in New York.

Ward, who was born of a Korean mother and African-American father, will act as a bridge between the people of the two nations. He said he will attend various events related to South Korea in the United States and contribute to promoting Korea.

Ward emigrated to the United States when he was one and was voted MVP of Super Bowl XL in 2006.