Seongbuk-gu Mask Sharing Relay to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

On the 21st, Wonjong Sunim of Gaeunsa Temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (fourth from the left) and related personnel donated 1,000 masks and 2,000 hand sanitizers to prevent the spread of COVID-19, along with Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu (fifth from the left).

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) continues a relay of sharing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

On the 21st, Seongbuk-gu announced that Gaeunsa Temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (Chief Monk Wonjong) donated 1,000 masks and 2,000 hand sanitizers to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Gaeunsa Temple established Myeongbujeon in the 10th year of King Gojong’s reign in the late Joseon Dynasty (1873), and seven years later in 1880, Monk I Byeoksong rebuilt the Daeungjeon Hall. After several restorations, it has come to the present day. Since 1981, the Central Buddhist College has used this place as an educational training center, making it one of the representative traditional temples in Seongbuk-gu.

Chief Monk Wonjong of Gaeunsa, who visited Seongbuk-gu Office that day, expressed his hope, saying, “Although these are difficult times with growing anxiety nationwide due to COVID-19, I hope that masks and hand sanitizers will help prevent virus infections even a little. I also hope that this will serve as an opportunity to spread a culture of sharing and make Seongbuk a warm community where we live together with neighbors in need.”

Since the anonymous ‘Seokgwan-dong Mask Angel’ donated 500 masks on the 5th, the relay of sharing masks and hand sanitizers has been spreading across various sectors in Seongbuk-gu.

Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro said, “Elderly people and low-income families, who find it difficult to obtain masks and hand sanitizers, are often in environments vulnerable to COVID-19, so the administration is on high alert and responding accordingly. Stories of neighbors considering others first and participating in sharing provide comfort in these harsh times and also instill confidence that we will soon overcome COVID-19.”

Seongbuk-gu plans to distribute the donated masks and hand sanitizers to multi-use facilities with many users, such as local daycare centers, comprehensive social welfare centers, and facilities for the disabled.