'Faceless Angel' Continues Rice Donations for 11th Year This Year...

Seongbuk-gu Wolgok 2-dong's Faceless Angel Sends 300 Bags of 20kg Rice at 7:30 AM on the 27th... 11 Years of Quiet Good Deeds Since 2011, Totaling 3,300 Bags, 66 Tons, Worth About 198 Million Won

When the truck carrying 300 bags of 20kg rice sent by the faceless angel last year stopped in front of the Wolgok 2-dong Community Service Center, Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu (front left), along with public officials, residents, and local stakeholders, were unloading the rice together.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] In 2011, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2012, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2013, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2014, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2015, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2016, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2017, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2018, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2019, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2020, 300 bags of 20kg rice; and in 2021, 300 bags of 20kg rice.

The faceless angel once again sent 300 bags of 20kg packaged rice to the Wolgok 2-dong Community Service Center in Seongbuk-gu in 2021, the Year of the Ox.

Starting in 2011, this marks the 11th year, totaling 3,300 bags, weighing 66 tons of rice, with a market value of approximately 198 million KRW.

Once again, the only communication was a brief phone call saying, “I am sending rice early on the 27th so that neighbors in need can have a more secure holiday. Please take good care of it.”

The Wolgok 2-dong Community Service Center, upon receiving the angel’s call, experienced mixed emotions. Park Mi-soon, head of Wolgok 2-dong, said, “Since everyone is having a difficult time due to COVID-19, we were somewhat prepared for the possibility that the angel might not be able to send rice. After receiving the call, we felt respect and gratitude for the angel’s continued sharing despite hardships, and also relief to confirm the angel’s well-being.”

Welcoming the truck carrying the angel’s 300 bags of rice and unloading them has become a major event in Wolgok 2-dong. Every year, at dawn when the angel’s rice arrives, about 100 people including public officials, volunteers, and residents out for a walk line up in front of the Wolgok 2-dong Community Service Center to carry the rice in a spectacular scene.

However, this year, due to the COVID-19 situation, the number of people carrying rice had to be drastically reduced. As a measure to lead by example in social distancing, a separate event was omitted and only a small number of people moved the rice. The staff in charge had a hard time persuading residents who wanted to help unload the angel’s rice. Nevertheless, participation in sharing alongside the angel could not be stopped.

Donations of rice and cash envelopes from Wolgok 2-dong residents also continued. One hundred local elders participated in the ‘100 Elders Sharing 10,000 KRW Each’ campaign. One participating elder (76, Wolgok 2-dong) said, “Most of the elderly living alone in the neighborhood receive the rice sent by the angel. As seniors who should be role models in the village, 100 elders gathered 10,000 KRW each to share even a small happiness like the angel.”

Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro emphasized, “Due to COVID-19, marginalized neighbors are living with even greater loneliness. The beautiful story unfolding in Wolgok 2-dong not only provides emotional support by showing that warm neighbors exist for the marginalized but also creates a virtuous cycle where those who receive help go on to help others. We will strive to further honor the angel’s intentions.”