Muju County’s Hometown Love Donations Surpass 1 Billion KRW, Marking Record High

Donation Amount Surges by Over 93% Compared to Previous Year

A view of the Muju County Office in Jeonbuk. Provided by Muju County, Jeonbuk

Muju County in Jeonbuk has surpassed 1 billion KRW (approximately 1 billion won) in donations through the Hometown Love Donation Program for the first time, demonstrating the strong enthusiasm for giving to Muju.

According to Muju County on January 7, as of the end of December 2025, the cumulative amount raised through the Hometown Love Donation Program reached approximately 1.38 billion KRW. This represents an increase of over 93% compared to the previous year. Both the number of donations (12,194 cases) and the number of donors (11,853 people) more than doubled, showing rapid growth.

This achievement is attributed to the introduction of the "designated donation" system, which allows donors to directly choose the projects they wish to support. In particular, the "Support Project for Installing Safety Handles on Toilets for the Elderly" received enthusiastic support from younger donors, quickly reaching its fundraising goal of 22 million KRW, and will be fully implemented starting this year. Other practical welfare projects, such as revitalizing theater clubs and supporting vehicles for local children's centers, also resonated with donors.

Muju County has actively promoted participation by holding on-site promotional campaigns at exhibitions and events across the country seven times. Additionally, the county increased donor satisfaction by offering 59 unique return gifts that capture the charm of Muju, such as the "Firefly Mystery Exploration Pass," "Mountain Village Film Festival Admission Ticket," and "Hyangrosan Natural Recreation Forest Accommodation Voucher."

As a gesture of gratitude, the county has established a "Hall of Fame" on its official website to encourage ongoing interest from donors.

Park Sunok, Head of the Autonomous Administration Division of Muju County, stated, "We will enhance the transparency of our fund projects so that donors feel a sense of fulfillment, and we will develop initiatives unique to Muju to create a virtuous cycle of voluntary giving."

Meanwhile, the Hometown Love Donation Program allows participants to receive a full tax deduction for donations up to 100,000 KRW and return gifts worth up to 30% of the donation amount. Participation is available through the online platform and at NongHyup Bank branches nationwide.