'2024 Busan Volunteer Conference' to be Held on the 12th

2 PM on the 12th at City Hall, Expressing Gratitude to Dedicated Volunteers

Mayor, Chair of the City Council's Administrative and Cultural Committee, Superintendent of Education, and Over 700 Volunteers Attend

On the 12th at 2 p.m., Busan City will hold the '2024 Busan Volunteer Conference' at the City Hall Auditorium to commemorate 'International Volunteer Day.'

'International Volunteer Day' was designated by the United Nations (UN) in 1985 to express gratitude for the dedication and efforts of volunteers, setting the date as December 5th. In South Korea, it has been designated and operated since 2005 to promote participation in volunteer activities and boost volunteer morale.

Additionally, the week starting from 'International Volunteer Day' is designated as 'Volunteer Week,' during which various programs related to volunteering are conducted, including the Volunteer Day commemorative ceremony, participation in social network service (SNS) profile campaigns, and distribution of On-gi Sharing Volunteer Kakao emoticons.

This event was organized to encourage and express gratitude to volunteers (groups) who bring warmth and hope to the local community.

The event will be attended by about 700 people, including Mayor Park Hyung-jun, Song Sang-jo, Chair of the City Council's Administrative and Cultural Committee, Superintendent of Education Ha Yun-su, and volunteers, featuring an awards ceremony for volunteers and various side events.

A total of 94 awards will be presented to encourage volunteers, including 1 National Medal of Honor (Seokryu Medal), 1 Presidential Citation, 1 Prime Minister’s Citation, 7 Minister of the Interior and Safety Citations, 27 Busan Mayor Citations, 4 Busan City Council Chair Citations, 3 Busan Superintendent of Education Awards, 16 Volunteer Honor Medals (for volunteers with over 10,000 cumulative hours), and 17 Volunteer Gold Badges (for volunteers with over 3,000 cumulative hours and more than 500 hours in the current year).

In particular, volunteer Choi Bok-soon (born 1949), who will receive the National Medal of Honor Seokryu Medal, was recognized for expanding the scope of volunteering through various sharing and volunteer activities. She has demonstrated a consistent spirit of service and dedication for 44 years, personally practicing beautiful acts of kindness for neighbors in need, earning the honor of receiving the National Medal of Honor.

Starting with activities in the Saemaul Women’s Association in 1980, she has practiced sharing wherever help was needed for 44 years, including disaster and accident site recovery, support for the hearing impaired, meal and living support for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, settlement support for North Korean defectors, and prevention of solitary deaths among elderly living alone.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun said, “I extend my respect and deep gratitude to the volunteers who travel throughout Busan, making it a warm community,” adding, “We will not forget their efforts and gratitude and will strive to further spread the spirit of sharing and volunteering in the local community.”