Caring for Mother-in-Law Who Has Had Difficulty Moving Alone for 14 Years
"Even when I go to work at the factory, I always worry about my mother-in-law who is alone at home."
Kim Min-seo (45), who came to Korea from Vietnam 14 years ago and has been caring for her mother-in-law with devotion, received the Grand Prize for the Multicultural Filial Daughter-in-law Award at the 26th Gachon Filial Piety Awards, given to the "modern-day Sim Cheong."
Married to a Korean husband in 2010, Kim devotedly cared for her father-in-law who suffered from dementia until he passed away three years ago, making sure he had meals. She not only carefully looks after her elderly mother-in-law who has difficulty moving alone but also lovingly cares for her daughter with intellectual disabilities.
She has worked at a garlic factory for eight years without showing any signs of hardship. Before going to work, she always prepares snacks for her mother-in-law. Kim said, "I often tell my mother-in-law, 'I will always be by your side to support you, so please live a long life,'" and smiled, "I hope she stays healthy from now on."
The Gachon Cultural Foundation highly praised Kim’s utmost filial piety and sacrifice and awarded her the Grand Prize for the Multicultural Filial Daughter-in-law Award.
Along with a prize of 10 million won, a comprehensive health check-up voucher, and lifelong medical fee discounts at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Kim said, "I think this award is for my whole family," and added, "I will continue to live happily with my family."
The Gachon Cultural Foundation selected Jang Hee-su (18), a third-year student at Busan Electronics Technical High School, and Choi Song-hee (16), a first-year student at Incheon Shinmyeong Girls' High School, as recipients of the ‘Gachon Filial Piety Award’ for students aged 11 to 24.
Jang willingly donated part of his liver to his father who had liver cancer surgery and experienced a recurrence. He helped his younger siblings with their studies and supported marginalized friends at school. Choi woke up early every day to take care of her younger siblings and also cared for her grandmother who was hospitalized due to poor health.
The Gachon Cultural Foundation selected four main prize winners and four special prize winners for the Gachon Filial Piety Award, two main prize winners for the Multicultural Filial Daughter-in-law Award, one grand prize and one special prize for the Multicultural Helper Award, and one main prize winner for the Filial Piety Education Award. The Gachon Filial Piety Awards were established in 1999 by Gachon University President Lee Gil-yeo, founder of the Gachon Cultural Foundation, inspired by the donation of a Sim Cheong statue to Baengnyeongdo, Incheon, the original setting of the Sim Cheong story.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
