Selection of 10 Awardees: Volunteers, Sponsors, and Workers
Kim Si-jung (stage name Kim Eun-young), a voice actor who has played the role of 'Sullivan' for visually impaired people for 35 years.
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 14th the selection of 10 awardees in 3 categories for the ‘19th Seoul Welfare Awards.’
Established in 2003, the ‘Seoul Welfare Awards’ recognize individuals and organizations that serve as role models in society through acts of neighborly love. Every year, 10 recipients are selected across three fields: welfare volunteer, sponsor, and worker, including 1 grand prize winner, 3 excellence awardees, and 6 merit awardees. Over 18 years, a total of 180 people have been honored.
The grand prize was awarded to voice actor Kim Si-jung (stage name Kim Eun-young), who has served as a ‘Sullivan’ for the visually impaired for 35 years. Kim has contributed to the production of about 1,800 audio magazines and 121 alternative books, with approximately 223,000 visually impaired people nationwide subscribing to the books narrated by her.
Other recipients include Han Dong-go, who has volunteered over 1,300 hours providing boiler safety inspections and home repairs for vulnerable groups; Secui, which has supported vulnerable households through monthly salary sharing by all employees; and Jeong Mi-ryeong, director of Seodaemun Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, who has worked hard to support self-sufficiency and independence for low-income vulnerable residents.
Thanks to Kim Si-jung’s dedication over 35 years in producing alternative books such as audio magazines for the visually impaired, about 220,000 people have been able to access information. Kim began volunteering in 1986 by recording audio magazines at the Korea Welfare Center for the Visually Impaired and has contributed to training recording volunteers since 2014 to expand audio book production for the visually impaired.
Han Dong-go, who won the excellence award in the volunteer category, has been acting as a safety guardian for vulnerable groups by inspecting and repairing boilers for elderly living alone and basic livelihood security households through talent donation since 2005. Han has also participated in various community volunteer activities such as youth harmful environment cleanup and home repair, leading efforts to help socially disadvantaged people.
Secui was selected for the excellence award in the sponsor category. Since 2013, all employees at Secui have participated in supporting vulnerable disabled households in Seongbuk-gu. Over the past eight years, Secui has donated 63 million KRW and helps vulnerable groups have a warm winter by delivering kimchi to 1,800 households every year-end.
The excellence award in the worker category went to Jeong Mi-ryeong, director of Seodaemun Comprehensive Social Welfare Center. Since the 1998 IMF financial crisis, Jeong has worked as a social worker, demonstrating flexibility and expertise in every crisis and striving for the self-sufficiency and independence of low-income vulnerable groups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when face-to-face welfare was difficult, Jeong provided welfare services such as non-face-to-face home visits and telephone counseling to prevent care gaps and ensure the social safety net operated stably even in crisis situations.
To comply with social distancing, the 2021 Seoul Social Welfare Conference will be held online on the 14th, where the Seoul Welfare Award recipients will be announced, and plaques will be delivered individually to the awardees.
Ha Young-tae, director of the Seoul Welfare Policy Division, said, “Although the award ceremony will not be held, the achievements of the recipients who have selflessly volunteered and shared for neighbors and socially vulnerable people during these difficult times of prolonged COVID-19 shine even brighter. We will continue to strive to spread a culture of sharing for a happier Seoul.”
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