"Though We Struggle Too, We Contribute to Our Homeland" Overseas Koreans' Donation Parade... 500,000 Masks and 300 Million Won Donated to the Red Cross

Shanghai and Hong Kong Korean Associations Donate 200,000 Masks Each
Guangdong Korean-Chinese Federation Delivers 10,000 Masks to Italian Korean Association

At Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 13th, Salvation Army officials are installing donation boxes and encouraging mask donations during the 'Mask Donation Campaign.' Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Donations from overseas Koreans to help respond to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continue to pour in.

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that recently, donations of goods and funds prepared by overseas Koreans have been continuously received, and that about 500,000 masks and 300 million KRW in donations will be delivered to the Korean Red Cross. These goods and funds will be used to protect socially vulnerable groups in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region, which has been most severely affected by COVID-19, as well as across the country.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "Donations from overseas Koreans in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia are particularly notable. The 200,000 masks purchased with funds raised by the Korean community in Shanghai have arrived at Incheon Airport and are undergoing customs clearance." He added, "The Korean community in Shanghai initially planned to donate 100,000 masks, but upon learning that these protective supplies would be donated to the mother country, voluntary participation from overseas Koreans increased, resulting in a total donation of 200,000 masks."

The Korean Association in Hong Kong decided to forgo 200,000 masks that were to be donated from the Korea-Macau Mutual Exchange Association and send them to Korea to help overcome COVID-19. The Hong Kong Korean Association reported that there is a widespread recognition within the overseas Korean community that supporting the mother country with protective supplies such as masks should be the top priority given the current high demand.

The Korean-Chinese Federation in Guangdong Province, China, recently decided to send 10,000 masks to the Korean Association in Italy, where the cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases has surpassed 60,000. This is expected to be recorded as the first case of cooperation among overseas Korean communities regarding protective supplies. Additionally, the Korean Association in Italy has informed the embassy that despite difficult local conditions, they are conducting a fundraising campaign to help the mother country.

There have also been many cases where people, upon hearing that protective supplies are insufficient locally, have offered small acts of kindness or inquired with local embassies about other possible support methods.

In Germany, mainly overseas Koreans who are former workers dispatched to Germany aged 70 and above participated in raising about 20 million KRW in donations. It was understood that most of these overseas Koreans actively participated in this fundraising campaign despite living on modest pensions.

In Qingdao, China, there was a case where the child of an overseas Korean personally saved their allowance to purchase 50 masks and delivered them to the Consulate General, asking that they be sent to Korea. The consulate delivered this donation to the Korean Red Cross, and the protective supplies were sent to the sites in need. The Korean Association in Madagascar, Africa, although a small group of about 200 members, also delivered 8 million KRW in donations to the local embassy, asking that it be used for the citizens of Daegu who are experiencing difficulties.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "In addition to support routed through overseas diplomatic missions, there are also ongoing cases of support for the mother country through organizations such as the Korean Red Cross." He added, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to continue close consultations with the Korean Red Cross to ensure that precious donations and protective supplies from the overseas Korean community are quickly distributed to places in need within Korea."

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