Korea’s largest expatriate women’s association said it raised the most money for charity ever for its diplomatic and community bazaar, the group’s touchstone event of the year, during its monthly morning coffee meet up at Seoul Club, Wednesday.

The Seoul International Women’s Association also recognized several foreign diplomatic missions in Korea for helping to raise the funds ― 128 million won for charity ― in its 34th Annual Diplomatic and Community Bazaar at the Seoul Metropolitan History Museum in downtown Seoul last November.

In addition to SIWA, the bazaar is also a signature event for the foreign diplomatic community with more than 40 embassies working with women’s clubs, welfare organizations and vendors as well as local and international sponsors to raise cash for charity.

SIWA recognized the diplomatic ladies involved in the charity fundraiser ― some the wives of envoys and others diplomats themselves ― from Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Japan and Greece for their contribution to the most successful bazaar ever.

The charity event was its most popular to date with some 8,000 people visiting the bazaar, according to museum officials.

The Italian Embassy received special recognition for raising more than 15 million won, the most of any diplomatic mission here; the German Embassy for raising 10 million, the second most; and the Japanese, Greek and Brazilian embassies, the third most each.

The annual bazaar is the largest international fund-raising event in Seoul, and last year’s marked the association’s 50th anniversary since it was established in 1962.

Food vendors and volunteers join in to sell products, foods and cultural goods from all over the world to benefit those in need.

The bazaar benefits more than 30 Korean charities each year through the SIWA Welfare Program.

The Seoul International Women’s association was created in 1962 as a group of women from all over the world to enhance expatriate life in Korea while supporting the needy here.

Over 50 Embassies, women’s clubs, charity groups and vendors participate in the bazaar, selling goods from around the world. Businesses donate generously either with a cash donation or company products.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)