Chairman Lee Jung-geun of Booyoung Group Makes Generous Donation to Hometown
Payments of 26 Million to 90.2 Million KRW Based on Residency Period
Residents Plan 'Gongdeokbi' to Express Gratitude
Lee Joong-geun, chairman of Booyoung Group (82), personally gave 100 million won each to the residents of his hometown village, who are now voluntarily promoting the establishment of a merit monument.
On the 29th, CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' featured an interview with Jang Chan-mo (81), a resident who was born and has lived for 82 years in Unpyeong-ri village, Seomyeon, Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, the hometown of Chairman Lee.
He said, "It was around the end of May when the village chief suddenly said, 'A gift must have arrived,' and told me to check my bankbook," adding, "At first, I expected about 1 million won."
However, when Jang checked his bankbook, he was astonished because the amount recorded was over 100 million won.
He shared his feelings at the time, saying, "It felt like a dream. I wondered if it was real or a prank."
He continued, "Many people were burdened with farming debts and such, but most felt like they could survive now," describing the village situation.
He added, "When you carry a load of rice from the paddy field, you can't get up easily. When someone pushes you, you can stand up well, and that's how it feels now."
According to Jang, the village residents are currently promoting the establishment of a merit monument to express their gratitude to Chairman Lee. Jang said, "We couldn't just stay still after receiving such a big gift, so everyone including the village chief agreed," adding, "There is a consensus to erect a merit monument for the chairman."
Although Chairman Lee requested not to build a merit monument, it is known that the residents are voluntarily moving forward by donating 1% of the amount each received as a contribution.
Meanwhile, Chairman Lee was born into a poor farming family in Jukdong village, Unpyeong-ri, attended Dongsan Elementary School and Suncheon Middle and High Schools in Seomyeon. Later, he earned a master's and doctoral degree in public administration from Korea University Graduate School of Policy in Seoul. He entered the construction industry and founded Booyoung in 1983.
Since then, Chairman Lee has shown special affection for his hometown by establishing Booyoung Elementary School in Suncheon in 1991.
He decided to share cash like this starting two months ago, stating, "I want to express my gratitude for protecting my hometown where I spent a difficult childhood." Between late May and early June, he deposited amounts ranging from 26 million won to 90.2 million won into the personal bank accounts of about 280 households in Unpyeong-ri, after tax deductions and based on the actual residence period in the village.
'Cash Donations to Alumni and Comrades as well'... Personal Donations Total 250 Billion Won, Group-wide Donations Reach 1 Trillion Won
Orchard and birthplace of Chairman Lee Jung-geun in Jukdong Village, Unpyeong-ri, Seomyeon, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do. [Photo by Yonhap News]
This is not Chairman Lee's first cash sharing. In the past, he gave 100 million won each to alumni of Dongsan Elementary and Suncheon Middle Schools, and 50 million won each to alumni of Suncheon High School from the same graduating class (8th class).
Two years ago, he sent up to 1 billion won to relatives who were not direct descendants. It is also reported that he performed good deeds for comrades who served in the military together.
So far, the cash he has directly distributed to those around him amounts to 150 billion won, and including donated items such as gifts, tool sets, and history books, the total is known to be about 250 billion won.
In addition to Chairman Lee's personal donations, Booyoung Group carries out various social contribution activities domestically and internationally.
On the 1st, marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, the group donated 10 billion won to the 'Air Force Sky Love Scholarship Foundation.' The foundation was established to support the children of Air Force pilots who died in training.
Chairman Lee, a former Air Force member, has been consistently donating to the Air Force, thinking of "repaying the cost of meals" as he received two meals per meal during his five and a half years of military service.
In 2015, he supported the construction costs of a memorial for veterans at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, to express gratitude to the international veterans who risked their lives to help during the Korean War.
Booyoung Group, practicing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management, has donated over 1 trillion won to society so far.
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