The Story of Park Geum-i from Seongbuk-gu Who Received the Hyo-bu Award...

Eldest Daughter-in-Law of Seven Siblings Recognized for Supporting Siblings' Education and Providing Scholarships to Parents' Hometown Jeongeup, Jeonbuk; Awarded Filial Daughter-in-Law Award... Still Active as a Hair Designer at Age 72

The daughter-in-law award recipient, Park Geum-i (right), is taking a commemorative photo after receiving the award from Lee Seung-ro, the mayor of Seongbuk-gu.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] On the occasion of the 24th "Senior Citizens' Day," Park Geum-i (72) from Seongbuk-gu received the Filial Daughter-in-Law Award from the Mayor of Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro), drawing attention.

Park silently supported her late mother-in-law, Moon Soon-im, who received the "2019 Jeongeup Guinness" award (six commendations and medals for children of public officials, with a total service period of 202 years, the longest and most nationwide record), thereby enhancing the honor of Seongbuk-gu and being confirmed as the recipient of the Seongbuk-gu Filial Daughter-in-Law Award.

Park married public official Kim Jeong-il on December 13, 1969, and their first newlywed home was an unauthorized house on Mountain 2 in Hawolgok-dong without a lot number.

She entered a large family with seven siblings as the eldest son's daughter-in-law and was in such difficult circumstances that their honeymoon was replaced by a 3-night, 4-day stay at the in-laws' home in Jangmun-ri, Gobu-myeon, Jeongeup-si.

In particular, under her eldest son husband, there were six younger siblings. At that time, the younger brother under her husband was attending Korea National University of Education, and the youngest brother was a high school student. Among the three younger sisters, one was a middle school student and two were elementary school students. There was also a youngest sibling who was preschool-aged.

As the eldest daughter-in-law of the family, taking care of them was entirely Park's responsibility. The three younger sisters lived together in Seoul and completed high school. Subsequently, after the youngest sibling graduated from high school and after the passing of her father-in-law, the late Kim Suk-bong, in 1984, they moved to Seoul together and she helped them graduate from university.

Starting in 1985, the year after her father-in-law passed away, Park established the Moon Soon-im Scholarship in her mother-in-law’s name at Gobu Elementary School in Jeongeup and has been awarding scholarships equivalent to one sack of rice annually.

From this year, after her mother-in-law’s passing, she has actively supported donating two sacks of rice to the people of Jangmun Village, Gobu-myeon.

During the five years of famine following her marriage, as the in-law family’s debt increased due to the younger siblings’ tuition fees, Park started working in the beauty industry in her early twenties. Before her father-in-law passed away, she contributed to clearing debts and bought three cows, helping to build the family’s wealth.

At the funeral of her mother-in-law, the late Moon Soon-im, who passed away at the age of 100 last August, Jeongeup Mayor Yoo Jin-seop, former mayors Kang Kwang and Kim Saeng-gi, among others, paid their respects, honoring the deceased’s lifetime achievements.

In particular, condolence messages mourning her mother-in-law’s passing were featured in various media by former Jeongeup Mayor Kang Kwang and columnist Eun Ho-gi. Additionally, local historian and writer Eun Hee-tae wrote a poem titled "Proud Nokdugol Grandmother, 100-year-old Moon Soon-im’s Eternal Rest," which was published in a literary magazine as a tribute.

Park’s husband, Kim Jeong-il, is a retired former official of the Ministry of Information and Communication and currently serves as the Chairman of the 4.19 Revolution Memorial Association at Chung-Ang University.

Filial Daughter-in-Law Award recipient Park said, “Everyone went through difficult times, and as the eldest daughter-in-law, I believe I just did what was naturally expected of me, so it is an honor to receive the Filial Daughter-in-Law Award. Now, all family members have succeeded in their respective fields and live stably, which I think is the result of our efforts, so I feel proud and grateful to everyone.”

Park lives in the first phase of Gireum New Town in Seongbuk-gu and has operated Y Hair Shop for 50 years. Even in her seventies, she is known as a “tough woman” who continues to work as a hair designer to this day.

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