KB Kookmin Bank Holds 2021 Jangbyeong Wish Fulfillment Project Awards Ceremony

Over 3,400 Stories Submitted
70 Soldiers Finally Selected Through 3-Stage Screening

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] KB Kookmin Bank announced on the 6th that it held the award ceremony for the ‘2021 Soldier Wish Fulfillment Project’ online.

The 2021 Soldier Wish Fulfillment Project, jointly hosted by the Ministry of National Defense and KB Kookmin Bank, is a program where South Korean soldiers submit their wishes along with stories, and the project fulfills those wishes and sends encouragement messages. This year as well, the wish fulfillment rights were individually delivered to the units where the winners are serving to celebrate their awards in a non-face-to-face manner.

Since its inception in 2010, this project marked its 12th year this year, receiving a total of about 3,400 stories. Through a three-stage screening process, a total of 70 soldiers were finally selected. The selected soldiers will receive support within this month to realize the dreams they have long wished for.

Among the winners, Sergeant Pi Seung-hee of the Army 23rd Division, a former marathon runner, said, “Before enlisting, I was preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but I gave up my dream due to a recurrence of an Achilles tendon injury I had surgery on in the past and enlisted.” He added, “Through rehabilitation during military service, I have now fully recovered, and I want to become a marathoner who brings honor to the country at the 2024 Paris Olympics by making good use of the running shoes and heart rate watch supported by the Soldier Wish Fulfillment Project.”

Also, Captain Kim Byung-jae of the Joint Defense Language Institute said, “I had planned to gift hats, gloves, and other items to children battling pediatric cancer in the pediatric ward of the National Cancer Center, where my wife works as a nurse, to help them stay warm during winter.” He expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am thankful for the great help I received through winning this project to fulfill my wish.”

Han Sang-gyeon, Executive Director and Head of Institutional Customer Group at KB Kookmin Bank, said, “I hope this project will be a stepping stone for soldiers serving in difficult times to take one more step toward a hopeful future.” He added, “We will continue to develop this program into one that supports the dreams and hopes of soldiers through ongoing cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense.”