Starbucks Donates Handwritten Calligraphy "Cheonhawigong" by Baekbeom Kim Gu

Starbucks CEO Song Hoseop (second from left), Cultural Heritage Administration Commissioner Kim Hyunmo (third from left), and Cultural Heritage National Trust Chairman Kim Jonggyu (fourth from left) are taking a commemorative photo at Deoksugung Jungmyeongjeon on the 5th during the presentation ceremony of the handwritten calligraphy "Cheonhawigong" by Baekbeom Kim Gu.

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Starbucks Korea has donated relics of Baekbeom Kim Gu.

Starbucks Coffee Korea commemorated the March 1st Movement by holding a sponsorship event for the protection of independence cultural heritage on the 5th at Deoksugung Jungmyeongjeon Hall, together with the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Cultural Heritage National Trust, and held a ceremony to deliver Baekbeom Kim Gu's handwritten calligraphy "Cheonhawigong".

The handwritten calligraphy by Baekbeom Kim Gu that Starbucks is donating this time is the phrase "Cheonhawigong (天下爲公)" written in 1948, which means "The world is not the private property of individuals but belongs to everyone."

At the event, in addition to the delivery ceremony of Baekbeom Kim Gu's handwritten calligraphy relic purchased through the independence cultural heritage protection fund sponsored by Starbucks last year, Starbucks donated 100 million KRW from the independence cultural heritage protection fund created with proceeds from the reopening of Starbucks Hwangudan Branch and products commemorating the March 1st Movement and Liberation Day to the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Cultural Heritage National Trust.

Since signing an agreement with the Cultural Heritage Administration as a guardian of cultural heritage in 2009, Starbucks has actively practiced the preservation of our cultural heritage and independence cultural heritage through various activities such as local community traditional culture preservation, sponsorship for restoration and preservation of the Korean Empire Legation in the United States, national donation activities for independence cultural heritage, scholarships for descendants of independence activists, and support for cultural events at royal palaces.

Starbucks has previously donated Baekbeom Kim Gu's handwritten calligraphy relics "Jonsimyangseong" (2015), "Gwangbokjoguk" (2016), and Dosan Ahn Changho's "Yakyokgaejosahoe Seonjagaejoagung" (2019) to the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Cultural Heritage National Trust. In 2017, Starbucks also donated 300 million KRW to support the restoration and preservation of the Korean Empire Legation in the United States.

Kim Hyun-mo, head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, stated, "Starbucks' continuous support activities for independence cultural heritage demonstrate a representative case of corporate social responsibility related to cultural heritage guardianship. The Cultural Heritage Administration will do its best to promote social contribution and social value expansion through independence cultural heritage in cooperation with Starbucks and the Cultural Heritage National Trust."

Kim Jong-gyu, chairman of the Cultural Heritage National Trust, added, "We will preserve the historically valuable independence cultural heritage donated by Starbucks so far well and ensure it is passed on to our descendants."

Song Ho-seop, CEO of Starbucks, said, "Protecting Korea's cultural heritage is fulfilling Starbucks' mission and a great source of pride for our partners," and added, "We will continue to make efforts so that all customers can take more interest in protecting Korea's proud cultural heritage."