"I Want to Help Neighbors in More Difficult Situations"... Donation Movement by Mapo-gu Residents

Residents Donating Money to Overcome COVID-19 Despite Being Basic Livelihood Security Recipients

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Donations from Mapo-gu residents who want to help those more in need than themselves to overcome ‘COVID-19’ are increasing.

Recently, a basic livelihood security recipient living in Mangwon 1-dong, Mapo-gu, expressed a desire to contribute to resolving the COVID-19 situation and donated 500,000 won in cash to Mapo-gu.

According to the district office, around 11 a.m. on the 5th, a resident visiting the Mangwon 1-dong Community Service Center handed an envelope containing 500,000 won in cash to an employee.

The employee, well aware of the resident’s financial situation, discouraged the donation by saying, “If you donate on a temporary impulse, you might face financial difficulties yourself, so please take some time to reconsider.” However, during subsequent phone consultations and home visits, the resident strongly reaffirmed their intention to donate.

The resident, who requested anonymity, stated, “I am a single-person household basic livelihood security recipient and am financially struggling, but I want to help neighbors who are in even more difficult situations due to COVID-19,” expressing their willingness to donate.

The district plans to process this donation as a designated contribution to the Mangwon 1-dong branch of the Community Chest of Korea for social welfare.

On the 12th, an elderly woman knocked on the door of the Yonggang-dong Community Service Center director’s office.

Yang Ok-mo (78), who recently moved to Yonggang-dong, introduced herself and handed over an envelope containing 500,000 won in cash and a letter. The letter read, “I regret not being able to participate in volunteer work to overcome COVID-19, and I donate this money for the volunteers who are working hard to overcome the situation.”

The elderly woman explained that her older sister recently became ill and requires care, so she is unable to participate in volunteer activities to overcome COVID-19, which is why she is donating the money.

According to district officials, Ms. Yang is also a basic livelihood security recipient who is currently not financially well-off.

Yang Ok-mo (78) is said to be the daughter of independence activist Yang Seung-man, who carried out anti-Japanese resistance activities including secret operations during the Japanese colonial period.

Her grandfather, Yang Geon-seok, was also an independence activist who led the March 1st Movement by producing about 100 Taegukgi flags himself to support the independence demonstrations.

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “Whenever the nation faces a crisis, we have risen again through the power of the people,” and added, “We will use the warm hearts of our residents in meaningful ways.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.