Sahmyook University Launches Campaign Supporting and Solidarity with Myanmar Democratization Movement

Medicine and Clothing Support, Fundraising Planned to Help Myanmar

Supporters from Samyook University Myanmar Campus created a card news about the Myanmar democratization movement through Instagram.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Samyook University is conducting various campaigns, including a campaign to express support and solidarity with Myanmar citizens who are carrying out pro-democracy movements against the military coup, as well as donations of supplies.

On the 28th, Samyook University announced that it is supporting the local area by running an SNS campaign to raise awareness of the reality in Myanmar and by receiving donations of medicines, clothing, and other supplies. Recently, Samyook University received donations of medicines such as antibiotics and digestive aids from Kwangdong Pharmaceutical and delivered them to alumni missionaries active on site. Clothing donated by the Samyook University Church volunteer group Dorgahoe was also sent together.

The Samyook University Social Service Group has formed Myanmar campaign supporters consisting of students and professors and is uploading content appealing for international solidarity through Instagram. They are raising awareness about the Myanmar pro-democracy movement, including △the causes and current situation of the Myanmar pro-democracy movement △the Myanmar pro-democracy movement and the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement △child victims of the coup △the 'three-finger salute,' a symbol of resistance to the coup.

Samyook University is carrying out volunteer support activities centered on the local network built through years of social contribution activities. The university began its relationship with Myanmar in 2014 by dispatching the KOICA Youth Middle-aged Volunteer Group. In 2017, under the leadership of Professor Kim Cheol-ho of the Department of Music, students from the Departments of Music and Theology conducted a 10-day music volunteer activity at a school in the border no-man’s land and continued support. In 2019, more than 200 volunteers were dispatched to a national facility for the disabled in Yangon, Myanmar, to carry out social contribution activities. In November of the same year, a workshop and training on Korean welfare facilities were held by inviting Myanmar government officials.

Additionally, a Myanmar Aid Fund will be established to carry out fundraising activities. Initially, donations were planned to be delivered through the Korean Language Department Student Association of Yangon University of Foreign Languages, but due to the military regime's suppression and the dissolution of that organization, cooperation plans are being sought with various groups such as the Yangon Medical University Citizen Volunteer Group.

Yoon Jae-young, head of the Samyook University Social Service Group, said, “Samyook University and Myanmar have had a long-standing relationship, and especially since the dispatch of a large volunteer group in 2019, we have closely cooperated with the Myanmar civilian government. It is unfortunate that cooperation has not proceeded smoothly due to COVID-19 and the Myanmar military coup. In this glocal era, we ask for much interest and participation in helping the Myanmar citizens as neighbors.”