Her Son Currently Serves on the Marine Special Prosecutor Team
An elderly woman who has been selling vegetables at the Sangmu Friday Market in Gwangju has drawn attention for donating 10 million won for two consecutive years to the Chonnam National University School of Law, her son's alma mater.
According to Chonnam National University (President Lee Geunbae) on October 22, Mrs. Lee Imsun, aged 89, who has spent her life selling vegetables at the Sangmu Friday Market, donated 10 million won to the Chonnam National University School of Law on her birthday, October 16. This is her second donation following last October, bringing her total contributions to 20 million won.
Mrs. Lee decided to make the donation because she wanted to use the money she had saved over a lifetime of working in the market in a meaningful way. She told her family, "Now I want to use the money I earned with my own hands in a way that feels rewarding." Her children suggested donating to the Chonnam National University School of Law, the alma mater of her youngest son.
Although the amount was not large, Mrs. Lee made the donation hoping that Chonnam National University students could study with peace of mind and grow into future leaders of society.
Mrs. Lee said, "Since I was young, I worked on the farm and ran a stall at the market while raising seven children. My lifelong wish was to send my youngest to college, and I have always been grateful to Chonnam National University for nurturing my son into an excellent legal professional."
She added, "Now that my children are all doing well in their own lives, I wanted to use the money I earned through hard work for the benefit of students. I hope that those who are educated will live upright lives and grow up to be adults who help others."
Her youngest son, Attorney Lee Geumgyu (CEO of Law Firm Dosi), graduated from the Department of Law at Chonnam National University in 1999 and passed the 43rd National Judicial Examination in 2001. He served as a prosecutor at the Pyeongtaek Branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office, the Ulsan District Prosecutors’ Office, the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office, and the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office, dedicating himself to the fair enforcement of the law.
Since opening his law practice in 2013, he has continued to engage in public interest legal activities and served as a parliamentary impeachment agent in the impeachment trials of former President Park Geun-hye and former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Currently, he is serving as a special prosecutor in the team led by Special Prosecutor Lee Myunghyun, investigating allegations of external pressure in the investigation into the death of a Marine. Chonnam National University awarded Attorney Lee Geumgyu the "Proud Chonnam University Alumni Award" in June.
Jung Hoon, Dean of the Chonnam National University School of Law, said, "I was deeply moved to hear that a mother who worked diligently at the Sangmu Friday Market throughout her life wanted to express her love and gratitude to her youngest son's alma mater. Inspired by Mrs. Lee Imsun's beautiful intentions, the university will do its utmost to ensure students can study and grow in an even better environment."
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