Despite Difficult Times Due to COVID-19, Hope Still Shines...

Amid COVID-19 Closures Among Self-Employed, Donation Chain from Local Businesses Warms Seoul Districts

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Our society is undergoing great hardships such as consecutive closures of self-employed businesses and small business owners, as well as unemployment due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Public officials including quarantine authorities, Seoul City, and district offices are working hard to identify and prevent COVID-19 cases.

Amid these challenges, acts of kindness to help neighbors in need continue to warm the community.

In particular, district offices in Seoul are receiving applause as local businesses and philanthropists step forward to assist vulnerable groups.

On the 8th, Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang District, announced that he received a donation of 10 million won for neighborly aid from Taesol Housing (CEO Hong Il-gi). The donated funds will be distributed to five elderly people in welfare blind spots within the district through the Jungnang District Social Welfare Council.

Also, Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon District, received 100 non-contact thermometers worth 10 million won from Kim Jin-hyun, CEO of Rezoom, a specialized manufacturer of beauty devices, at the mayor’s office at 10 a.m. on the same day.

On the 7th, Kim Young-jong, Mayor of Jongno District, received a donation of 20 million won for neighborly aid from Park Nae-chun, CEO of SM Gold Exchange GoldU, at the mayor’s office.

GoldU has been steadily donating neighborly aid funds to Jongno District every year since 2016.

Additionally, a philanthropist has decided to support 25 families with 6.4 million won monthly for one year starting this month through the ‘Seodaemun-gu 100 Families Embrace Project.’

Companies in Gangnam District, including POSCO, supported 2,000 vulnerable households by providing instant food and canned goods.

Within Dongdaemun District, Woorim BNC recently donated 2,000 kg of rice to the Jang-an 1-dong Community Service Center.

Also, on the 2nd, Chungshin Church in Yongsan District (Senior Pastor Lee Jeon-ho) and Korea Petroleum Industry (CEO Kim Byung-jip) each donated 10 million won and 10,000 masks respectively to the Yongsan Welfare Foundation (Chairman Lee Sang-yong).

Along with this, Yongsan District (Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) purchased 200,000 KF masks earlier this month, delivered 134,000 masks to community service centers, and distributed 15 masks per person to 6,937 low-income households.

Kyungdong Church in Seongbuk District (Senior Pastor Han Byung-hee) donated 5 million won in scholarships (500,000 won per person) to 10 middle, high, and university students with excellent academic performance despite difficult family circumstances through the district office.