"Please Give to Needy Students" ... 'Blue-eyed' Bishop Dubong Donates 10 Million Won Scholarship to Andong City

Father Kim Hak-rok, Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Andong, is donating a scholarship fund of 10 million won to the Andong Scholarship Foundation on behalf of Bishop Dubong.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Gu Daeseon] A 93-year-old blue-eyed clergyman donated the entire prize money he received from social activities as a scholarship.

Bishop Dubong, the first Catholic bishop of the Andong Diocese, donated 10 million won in scholarships to the Andong Scholarship Foundation, the city of Andong announced on the 18th.

Bishop Dubong, recognized for his efforts as a foreigner to improve human rights movements, labor movements, and education, culture, medical care, welfare, and environment in rural areas of Korea, donated the entire prize money he received as the individual grand prize at the opening awards ceremony of the ‘9th 2022 Humanities Value Forum’ held at the Andong International Convention Center on September 21.

Bishop Dubong (93 years old) was dispatched from France to Korea as a missionary in 1954 and served as the Catholic bishop of the Andong Diocese for 21 years from 1969 to 1990. After retiring as bishop of Andong Diocese, he continues to give various lectures and engage in social activities despite his advanced age of 93, dedicating himself to the faith education of Catholics and nurturing future generations.

He also lived a life as a missionary who never forgot his duty, respecting Korean culture and standing as a support for the marginalized and abandoned. He devoted himself to enhancing the human rights of socially vulnerable groups and rural and social movements for farmers, greatly contributing to regional development.

Attending the scholarship donation ceremony on behalf of Bishop Dubong, Father Kim Hakrok, Vicar General of the Catholic Andong Diocese, said, “Bishop Dubong said, ‘The greatest happiness people experience is through the practice of love,’ and he conveyed his wish to support local students in difficult circumstances to realize their dreams with the prize money received through the help of all local residents.”

Mayor Kwon Ki-chang of Andong said, “Bishop Dubong’s warm practice of love has become a heartwarming example for the local community,” and expressed gratitude, saying, “We will honor this precious heart and use it well to foster local talent.”