On Its 27th Anniversary, 22 Students Receive 5.5 Million Won in Scholarships
A Total of 1,171 Students Supported So Far, with 201 Million Won Shared in Hope
The 100wonhoe (Chairman Kim Heeman) awarded scholarships totaling 5.5 million won to 24 students from financially disadvantaged families in celebration of its 27th anniversary. The event was held on the morning of September 21 at the Usan-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju.
On the 16th, the 100wonhoe took a commemorative photo after awarding scholarships to celebrate its 27th anniversary at the auditorium on the 3rd floor of the Usan-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Song Bohyun
During the scholarship ceremony, 11 university students, including Park Chanmun, a senior at Honam University, each received 300,000 won, while 11 middle and high school students, including Kyungshin Girls’ High School student Park Youngju, each received 200,000 won. In total, 22 students were awarded 5.5 million won in Hope Scholarships.
Notably, Park Green, a 4-year-old resident of Gwangsan-gu, attended the event with his grandmother and donated a piggy bank containing his saved allowance, amounting to about 60,000 won, as a scholarship, drawing attention from attendees.
To date, the 100wonhoe has supported a total of 1,171 students-including 277 university students and 894 middle and high school students-with scholarships amounting to 201 million won.
The scholarship recipients expressed their gratitude, saying, “Thanks to the heartfelt contributions of those who saved 100 won a day despite their own hardships, we are able to continue our studies,” and added, “In the future, we hope to become people who give back to society.”
Chairman Kim Heeman remarked, “Our members are not in affluent circumstances themselves, but they have consistently pooled their resources, making today possible through their dedication. I hope you will continue to pursue your dreams without losing hope, even in difficult circumstances.”
The 100wonhoe was founded in 1999 by Kim Heeman, then a public official at the Seo-gu District Office in Gwangju, to help neighbors in need during the IMF financial crisis. Its membership ranges from kindergarteners to people in their 80s, and currently, about 750 members are active nationwide. The organization has continued its volunteer activities, including providing living and medical expenses and offering free portrait photography for seniors living alone. Its achievements include receiving the Prime Minister’s Commendation at the National Recommendation Awards in 2018 and being inducted into the Gwangju Hall of Fame in 2021.
The 100wonhoe plans to continue its scholarship and sharing activities for local youth and those in need in the future.
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