[NGO Now] 23 Community Chest of Korea Donors Receive National Sharing Awards

▲23 Donors from Community Chest of Korea Receive National Sharing Awards

The Community Chest of Korea (Chairman Kim Byungjun) announced on the 6th that 23 of its donors received the "2025 Korea National Sharing Awards." On this day, the Order of Civil Merit, Dongbaek Medal, was awarded to Yang Han-jong, Chairman of SSGS and a member of the Honor Society Oplus at the Seoul Community Chest of Korea. In addition, the Order of Civil Merit was presented to two donors: Seong Seok-jong (material sharing) and Shin Dong-wook (personal sharing).

Yang Han-jong, the recipient of the Order of Civil Merit, Dongbaek Medal (Seoul), became the head of his family at the age of 15 after his father moved to North Korea following Korea’s liberation, enduring difficult times but later giving back to society after building his own life. Since 1973, he has operated a classic bar in Jung-gu, Seoul, donating profits to the local community and continuing his philanthropy through charity concerts and scholarship activities. Now approaching 90, Yang Han-jong has consistently practiced sharing, including raising awareness about inter-Korean family exchanges after reuniting with his elder brother Yang Han-sang, who went to North Korea during the Korean War, at a family reunion event in 2000. In 2024, he donated 1 billion won to the Community Chest of Korea and supported North Korean defector resettlement projects in cooperation with the Ministry of Unification and Hana One. In 2025, he donated 200 million won to the National Cancer Center, contributing to the treatment and research of cancer patients.

Seong Seok-jong, the recipient of the Order of Civil Merit (Material Sharing category, Chungnam), is an entrepreneur who runs semiconductor and LED manufacturing and software development companies and has led efforts to foster local talent. Since 1991, he has provided annual scholarships to students in his hometown of Seosan and has partnered with local vocational high schools to offer field training and regular employment opportunities, contributing to local talent development. He has also continued his philanthropy by joining the Honor Society and the Leading Donor Company program of the Community Chest of Korea in Chungnam.

Shin Dong-wook, the recipient of the Order of Civil Merit (Personal Sharing category, Daegu), known as the "Daegu Wheelchair Angel," has repaired and donated assistive devices for people with disabilities for 28 years. Inspired by repairing his son’s wheelchair, who has a first-degree brain lesion disability, he has provided over 12,000 free wheelchair repairs to date. Since founding Shinil Wheelchair Medical Devices in 1997, he has made regular monthly donations since 2013 and donated electric wheelchairs and scooters worth about 150 million won. As president of the Daegu Parents of Disabled Association and operator of the Disability Family Support Center, he has also worked to establish integrated support systems for people with disabilities and their families.

This year, a total of 23 Community Chest of Korea donors received awards: ▲Order of Civil Merit (Dongbaek Medal) 1 recipient (Yang Han-jong, Chairman of SSGS) ▲Order of Civil Merit 2 recipients (Seong Seok-jong, CEO of Luxpia, and Shin Dong-wook, CEO of Shinil Wheelchair Medical Devices) ▲Presidential Citation 3 recipients (Han Joo-sik, CEO of Jisan Engineering; Ki Joong-hyun, CEO of Healing Way; Rosso Co., Ltd. [Sungsimdang]) ▲Prime Minister’s Citation 1 recipient (Kolmar Holdings) ▲Minister of Health and Welfare Award 11 recipients (Incheon Ilbo Co., Ltd. and 10 others) ▲Community Chest of Korea President’s Award 3 recipients (Nonghyup Bank Gyeongnam Headquarters, Jeonnam Development Corporation, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital) ▲KBS President’s Award 1 recipient (Harim Co., Ltd.) ▲National Sharing Movement Headquarters Representative Award (Shinhaeng Construction Co., Ltd.).

Green Umbrella 'Love Across the Sea Season 5' Broadcast Still Cut

▲Green Umbrella to Air 'Love Across the Sea' Season 5 with KBS

Green Umbrella (Chairman Hwang Younggi) announced on the 7th that it will air "Love Across the Sea Season 5" in partnership with KBS. The broadcast will air for 50 minutes on KBS1TV at 4:10 p.m. on November 9. "Love Across the Sea" is a KBS documentary program that highlights the lives of children living in marginalized regions around the world and conveys the value of sharing to Korean society. Green Umbrella prepared this broadcast to share the importance and necessity of giving through stories of children in Tanzania, Africa, who care for their families from a young age and struggle to survive each day. Actress Hwang Bora will participate in this broadcast. Hwang Bora spent a day with Clement, an 11-year-old boy who supports his two younger siblings after losing his parents; Paraja, a 13-year-old boy who cares for his disabled father and siblings in a leaky house; and Beatrice, a 10-year-old girl who works on a farm to support her sick mother and younger siblings. She offered words of encouragement and empathy while experiencing their daily lives.

▲Korea Food for the Hungry International to Hold 'Wonder Market Season 6' with Ambassadors

Hope Friend Korea Food for the Hungry International (Chairman Choi Changnam) announced on the 7th that it will hold the 6th annual Wonder Market, a year-end charity bazaar supporting female breadwinners’ self-reliance, at "One Grove," the largest multi-cultural complex in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, from December 5 to 7. This year’s Wonder Market will feature donations of cherished items from Korea Food for the Hungry International ambassadors, including actress Kim Hye-eun, musical actress Hong Jimin, and broadcaster Lee Sun-young, as well as actress Kim Young-sun, announcer Lee Jung-min, and soprano Lim Sun-hae, who have joined the cause. On the day of the event, ambassadors will also volunteer on-site. Visitors can purchase not only items donated by ambassadors and celebrities but also a variety of daily necessities such as clothing, cosmetics, and miscellaneous goods donated by over 20 companies at reasonable prices, naturally participating in the act of sharing. Proceeds from sales will be used to support living expenses and self-reliance for female breadwinners and families with migration backgrounds.

Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association announced on the 6th that it held the move-in ceremony for the customized residential space for disaster crisis families, "Safety House." The photo shows the move-in ceremony held the day before in Goheung County, Jeollanam-do. Photo by Hope Bridge

▲Hope Bridge Completes First 'Safety House' for Disaster Crisis Families in Goheung, Jeollanam-do

The Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association (Chairman Lim Chae-chung) announced on the 6th that it held a move-in ceremony for the customized residential space "Safety House" for disaster crisis families in Yudun-ri, Donggang-myeon, Goheung County, Jeollanam-do. "Safety House" is a project that helps families living in poor conditions due to disaster damage or crisis to live safely again. This project was funded by donations from 9,572 individual supporters. In cooperation with local governments, a new home was provided for the family of Park Jeongmin and Kim Sunhee and their three children, who were struggling with deteriorating housing conditions. This Safety House was designed not as a "house to endure," but as a "house where one can dream safely." The house, built for a family of four, has two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, and a boiler room, covering 57.84 square meters (about 17 pyeong), to ensure a healthy and convenient life. Fire-resistant materials and earthquake-resistant designs were used to enhance safety, and first-grade windows were installed to maximize energy efficiency by minimizing heat loss.

Hope Bridge plans to expand this residential safety support model nationwide, starting with the Goheung Safety House, focusing on disaster-affected regions and disaster crisis families living in poor housing conditions.