42 Organizations and Individuals Honored... Busan Office of Education Holds Education Mecenat Award Ceremony

Jung Yonghwa of CNBLUE Draws Attention with Superintendent's Commendation in Busan

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education (Superintendent Kim Seokjun) held the '2025 Education Mecenat Award Ceremony' at the annex of the office on the afternoon of December 18, expressing gratitude to 42 organizations and individuals who contributed to the spread of the culture of educational donations over the past year.

This award ceremony was co-hosted and organized by the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, Busan Metropolitan City, Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Busan Ilbo. During the event, the Education Mecenat Tower was awarded to 28 organizations dedicated to the advancement of education in Busan, the Education Mecenat Plaque was presented to 10 organizations, and commendations were given to 4 individuals, for a total of 42 organizations, groups, and individuals being honored.

This year, Jung Yonghwa, the main vocalist of the popular band CNBLUE, drew attention as an individual awardee. A graduate of Busan Namsan High School, Jung was recognized for his consistent philanthropy despite his busy entertainment career, including donating scholarships and supporting the school's arts festival for underprivileged students at his alma mater. He received a commendation from the Superintendent of Education for his contributions.

Educational donation activities by leading local companies and institutions also stood out. Lotte Giants Co., Ltd. and Busan IPark Professional Football Club, both representing Busan in sports, supported the healthy growth of students by running youth tee-ball academies and providing opportunities to attend sports events. In the financial and public sectors, the Korea Exchange (KRX) National Happiness Foundation, Busan Bank, and Korea Housing Finance Corporation were honored for their contributions to nurturing future talent through scholarship support and providing education in economics and ICT.

In the welfare sector, organizations such as ChildFund Korea, World Vision, and Good Neighbors took the lead in addressing educational welfare blind spots by providing scholarships, improving residential environments, and running programs to prevent malnutrition. Additionally, the National Science Museum of Busan and Korea Technology Finance Corporation offered opportunities for science and technology experiential education, while MBC Playbe KidZania Busan supported career experience admission tickets, demonstrating the diversity of educational donation activities.

Examples of actively utilizing educational donation resources at schools were also introduced. Go Minseon, a teacher at Seongcheon Elementary School in Uam-dong, Nam-gu, received a commendation for connecting local universities and institutions and incorporating a variety of educational donation programs-such as AI, robotics, and marine ecology-into her classes.

Superintendent Kim Seokjun said, "I deeply thank all the companies and citizens who have generously practiced sharing for the children of Busan despite challenging circumstances," adding, "The 42 warm helping hands are coming together to brighten the future of education in Busan."

Now in its 18th year, the Education Mecenat Award Ceremony is held annually at the end of the year to honor those who have contributed to spreading the culture of giving in the Busan region, improving educational welfare, and reducing educational disparities.