Warmth Overcoming COVID-19... Dongdaemun-gu Raises 1.215 Billion Won

Dongdaemun-gu, Neighborly Love Continues Despite COVID-19, Warm Winter Campaign Successfully Concludes... Donations from Fire-Damaged Traditional Markets, Essential Workers, Anonymous Angels, and Public Officials Continue

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Despite the economic downturn caused by COVID-19, warm hands continued to reach out in Dongdaemun-gu.

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) announced that it achieved 1.215 billion KRW (99% of the target) in donations for the ‘2021 Hope Ondol Warm Winter Project’.

Over three months starting from November last year, 280 million KRW in cash donations and goods worth 935 million KRW were collected.

This year, donations of daily necessities such as rice and kimchi, as well as quarantine supplies like masks and hand sanitizers, have been continuously made, greatly helping vulnerable groups such as elderly living alone, low-income families, and people with disabilities to prevent COVID-19 infection.

Additionally, donations were made by traditional markets suffering from fire damage and essential workers providing core services to maintain social functions.

Before last year’s Chuseok holiday peak season, the Cheongnyangni Wholesale Market Merchants Association, which faced difficulties due to a fire, and the Seoul Taxi Transport Business Association, which continues face-to-face labor despite the risk of COVID-19 infection, expressed their warm hearts.

They donated 6.01 million KRW and 10 million KRW respectively, sending helping hands to neighbors in need despite difficult circumstances.

Moreover, Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol and the Dongdaemun-gu Office staff actively participated. Over the past year, they raised about 53 million KRW to support neighbors struggling due to COVID-19, leading the spread of a culture of donation.

Meanwhile, an anonymous angel who collected 1,000 KRW daily, totaling 365,000 KRW, added warmth to the community. The anonymous donor residing in Hwikyung 1-dong

decided at the beginning of last year to help neighbors in need by saving 1,000 KRW daily as a bucket list. As the new year began, they collected twelve envelopes each containing 1,000 KRW per day by month and delivered them to the Hwikyung 1-dong Community Service Center.

The anonymous donor said, “Last year was especially difficult due to COVID-19, but I saved 1,000 KRW every day without fail and am happy to have achieved my first bucket list goal. Please use the donation to help neighbors in need in the community.”

The district plans to distribute the donated goods to about 15,000 households, and the donations will be used throughout the year for living expenses, medical costs, and housing expenses for neighbors in need.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “Despite the difficult times due to COVID-19, I am grateful for the warm hearts of residents who did not forget to share compassion with neighbors in need this year as well. The donated money and goods will be a great help to neighbors facing hardships.”

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