Suncheon City Launches '280,000 Citizens Mask Distribution Campaign' to Overcome COVID-19

The Value of Sharing and Solidarity Shown Through Small Actions
You Can Benefit from the Donations You Make
Goal of 1 Million Masks by Year-End

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City in Jeonnam raised social distancing to Level 2 on the 20th, the first in the nation, as the spread of COVID-19 showed no signs of slowing down.

From the 7th to the 25th, a total of 92 people were infected in Suncheon through everyday life transmissions in villages, workplaces, schools, and families over 19 days.

This spread is occurring at a faster pace than during the first crisis in August (64 cases over 30 days), causing citizens to feel even more anxious with the college entrance exam (Suneung) approaching soon.

Suncheon citizens spent the past few days in COVID-19 anxiety, saying, "I'm worried that because of me, students' three years of study might go to waste," and "I even think we should wear masks at home now."

To overcome this, Suncheon City started the "Mask Donation Campaign" for its 280,000 citizens along with raising social distancing to Level 2, planning to collect and distribute 1 million masks to all 280,000 citizens by the end of the year.

Within just three days of launching the mask donation campaign, the city received about 259,000 masks from individuals, companies, and organizations.

Stories of citizens donating masks varied, including an anonymous basic livelihood security recipient who donated 10-won coins they had saved.

Ms. Jo Mira, living in Ocheon-dong, joined the mask donation campaign after seeing the Suncheon mayor’s Facebook post about it, wanting to gift her children the experience of caring for others.

Jo said, "I hope my children grow up with warm hearts and live in such a society," adding, "I personally drew mask packaging with my 6- and 5-year-old children and delivered it."

Mr. Kim Dong-hyun from Daejeon donated masks with pocket money given by his nephew.

The nephew, a Grade 9 public official, received his first paycheck on the 20th.

The family gathered at their hometown mother’s house, and as a token of gratitude, gave 100,000 won each to grandmother, eldest uncle, and younger uncle, and 50,000 won each to two aunts.

Since 400,000 won out of the nephew’s approximately 1.5 million won salary was not a small amount, Kim discussed with his family and added 100,000 won to donate to Suncheon’s mask donation campaign under the family’s name.

Mr. Lee Jung-geun, working at the Miracle Center, a rehabilitation facility for the disabled in Suncheon, collected 100,000 won with 14 colleagues and donated masks to Suncheon City.

Lee said, "COVID-19 has hurt the hearts of disabled workers, but we gathered our sincerity one by one with the belief that our Suncheon can overcome this."

Mr. Shin Geun-ju, living in Namje-dong, is a disabled person and belongs to the lower-income bracket.

He lives alone collecting scrap paper and has been donating 20,000 to 30,000 won monthly to the Namje-dong Administrative Welfare Center since 2013.

This month, he gave crumpled money saying, "I want to give something, so it’s good to add and live with others," asking to use it for mask donations.

Mr. Jung Jong-jae, commuting to a nearby county office from Suncheon, is considering how to hold this year’s year-end party.

Jung said, "This year, due to COVID-19 spread, everyone is advised to refrain from year-end and New Year gatherings. Every year at year-end, when I come home late drunk, my kids ask, ‘Dad, where did you go?’ and I have no answer. I am in charge of two groups as treasurer. I am thinking of discussing with the chairmen to cancel the gatherings and instead participate in the mask donation campaign," adding he feels he can confidently tell his children, "I went to the volunteer center to donate masks!"

According to the World Giving Index survey by the UK Charity Aid Foundation (CAF) in May, Korea’s donation index was 34% over the 10 years from 2009 to 2018, ranking 38th out of 126 countries.

Countries with similar donation index scores include Uzbekistan (35%), Paraguay (34%), and Lebanon (33%).

Compared to major advanced countries, Korea’s ranking remains in the mid to lower tier.

According to last year’s social survey results announced by Statistics Korea in November, people with donation experience (25.6%) were three times fewer than those without (74.4%).

The most common reason people do not donate was lack of economic means (51.9%).

Donating 500 won can provide one mask to a friend, and donating 10,000 won can gift masks to 20 neighbors.

One mask, about the size of a palm, is a gift of the most powerful vaccine.

The community can increase herd immunity, and wearing masks helps prevent winter flu and COVID-19, as well as providing warmth.

In the current trend of increasing asymptomatic cases, one can protect oneself and others.

Even if you usually wear masks but forget when going out, anyone can receive a free mask when entering public institutions or multi-use facilities.

In other words, the masks you donate can be used by yourself.

Mask donation is not grand or limited to those with money; it is an immediate action, and the value of community sharing and solidarity is that ten people taking one step is more precious than one person taking ten steps.

Mayor Heo Seok said, "The mystery of sharing is like a candle lighting another candle without the light fading," and "In the COVID-19 crisis, citizens’ donations have given hope to 5,500 vulnerable people through six rounds of mask boxes. I hope this second crisis will again show the great power of Suncheon citizens through the mask donation campaign."

Anyone, individuals or organizations, can participate in mask donation by contacting the Suncheon Volunteer Center or donating at donation boxes at the city hall entrance and town, township, and neighborhood civil service offices.

If a designated donation form is submitted with the mask donation, a donation receipt will be issued, allowing income tax deduction benefits during year-end tax settlement.