Warm Briquette Sharing Volunteer Service by Seongbuk-gu Youth

Providing Strong Energy with Meals or Supporting Isolated Neighbors' Warm Winter by Participating in Yeontan Sharing Volunteer Activities After Hearing This News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Bapsim, which is gifting a warm winter to marginalized neighbors facing an even harsher winter amid COVID-19, is becoming a hot topic.

The protagonist is 'Cheongnyeon Mungan' (Youth Door).

It is a small restaurant and social cooperative run by Father Gabriel to provide an affordable yet hearty meal for young people struggling with job and housing difficulties, having given up on the future.

With unlimited rice refills and kimchi stew for only 3,000 won, it has become a beloved restaurant not only for local youth but also for low-income marginalized neighbors. Although it runs at a perpetual deficit, everyone knows that Mungan does not give up on Bapsim for those in need. That is why, even without being asked, they volunteer to give back through Bapsim.

A representative example is the briquette sharing volunteer work.

Jeongneung-dong is adjacent to the foothills of Bukhansan Mountain, and there are households without city gas connections. For them, briquettes are essential in winter. Cheongnyeon Mungan conducts briquette sharing volunteer work every year for these households. This year alone, they distributed 6,400 briquettes to about 40 households in Jeongneung-dong over four sessions. Most of the support comes from numerous anonymous donors, with occasional help from companies and organizations. About 200 volunteers participated.

On the 19th, Korail Logistics joined in. Korail Logistics sponsored 1,600 briquettes that day. About 20 employees also came to volunteer in delivering briquettes. To comply with social distancing, 48 Korail Logistics employees and volunteers delivered briquettes while maintaining distance along winding alleys. Additionally, 80 kg of rice sent by someone was delivered together.

Despite volunteers’ attempts to stop her, Elder Heo** (78), who came outside to cheer the volunteers, wiped tears saying, “Thanks to these angel-like people, my back is warm and my heart feels reassured.”

A Korail Logistics official said, “Through the briquette sharing volunteer work, we realized that what we gave was not just 1,600 briquettes but warm interest and support that comforted lonely neighbors,” adding, “We feel proud to have ended 2020 meaningfully.”

Park** (23, Jeongneung-dong), who introduced herself as a Bapsim volunteer, said, “As I attend a nearby university and live alone, I often have meals at Mungan. I know well that the affordable meal contains the care and sharing of many people for us, so I give back through briquette sharing volunteer work,” smiling and adding, “My goal after employment is to become a regular donor.”

For volunteer participation and sponsorship inquiries, please contact the Cheongnyeon Mungan website.

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