Starbucks Provides 100 Million KRW Scholarship to University Students Descended from Independence Patriots

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] Starbucks Coffee Korea announced on the 29th that it held a business agreement and scholarship award ceremony to establish scholarships for descendants of independence patriots in collaboration with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Community Chest of Korea.

The event, held on the 28th at the Starbucks Support Center on Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, was attended by Starbucks CEO Song Hoseop, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Lee Namwoo, Secretary General of the Community Chest of Korea Kim Sanggyun, and university students who are descendants of independence patriots.

Starbucks, together with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Community Chest of Korea, awarded scholarships totaling 100 million KRW, giving 2 million KRW each to 50 university students who are descendants of independence patriots. Starbucks has been providing scholarships to descendants of independence patriots for seven years since 2015, and has awarded a cumulative total of over 560 million KRW to 283 recipients to date.

The 100 million KRW scholarship fund was created by matching part of the proceeds from the sales of commemorative tumblers and mugs released for this year's Samiljeol (March 1st Movement Day) and Gwangbokjeol (Liberation Day) by Starbucks, combined with 50 million KRW raised through the Love Fruit donation boxes placed in stores.

Representing the descendants of independence patriots were Park Chanmin, great-grandson of patriot Park Jeongyang who formed the domestic branch of the Manchurian Daehan Tonguibu in the early 1920s and led independence movements; Lee Chanhee, great-grandson of patriot Song Jeongho from Boseong, Jeollanam-do, who participated in the Angyuhong Uijin; and Oh Mingi, great-great-grandson of patriot Lee Gisong who led the March 23, 1919, independence movement at the Osu-ri market in Dunnam-myeon. They received the scholarships at the ceremony.

Scholarship representative Park Chanmin expressed, “As a descendant of an independence patriot, I will take pride and honor in this and devote myself to my studies to become an outstanding talent in society.”

CEO Song said, “I sincerely support all descendants of independence patriots to grow into excellent talents by emulating the noble spirit of the independence movement. I am grateful to the customers and partners who participated in this meaningful donation.”

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