'Faceless Angel' Sends 300 Bags of 20kg Rice to Wolgok 2-dong, Seongbuk-gu Again This Year... 12 Years of Consistent Kindness 'Heartwarming'

Seongbuk-gu Wolgok 2-dong's Faceless Angel Sends 300 Bags of 20kg Rice Early Morning January 7... "Please Help Neighbors in Need Get Through Winter" Short Phone Call Only

In the early morning of the 7th, a truck carrying 300 bags of 20kg rice sent by a faceless angel stopped in front of the Wolgok 2-dong Community Center. Lee Seung-ro, the mayor of Seongbuk-gu (wearing a yellow jumper in the center), along with community center staff and about 30 residents, are unloading the rice together.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] In 2011, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2012, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2013, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2014, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2015, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2016, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2017, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2018, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2019, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2020, 300 bags of 20kg rice; in 2021, 300 bags of 20kg rice; and in 2022, 300 bags of 20kg rice.

The "faceless angel" once again sent 300 bags of 20kg packaged rice to the Wolgok 2-dong Community Service Center in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, in the Year of the Black Tiger, 2022. Starting in 2011, this marks the 12th consecutive year, totaling 3,600 bags of rice, weighing 72 tons, with a market value exceeding 200 million KRW.

This time as well, the only communication was a brief phone call saying, "I am sending rice early in the morning on the 7th so that neighbors in need can have a more secure holiday. Please take good care of it."

The Wolgok 2-dong Community Service Center, upon receiving the angel’s call, experienced mixed emotions. Park Misun, head of Wolgok 2-dong, said, "Given that everyone is struggling due to COVID-19, we were somewhat prepared for the possibility that the angel might not be able to send rice. After receiving the call, we felt respect and gratitude for the angel’s continued sharing despite difficulties, and also relief in confirming the angel’s well-being."

Welcoming the truck carrying the angel’s 300 bags of rice and unloading them has now become an annual event in Wolgok 2-dong. Every year, at dawn when the angel’s rice arrives, a remarkable scene unfolds in front of the Wolgok 2-dong Community Service Center, with not only officials but also volunteers and residents out for a walk lining up to carry the rice.

However, due to the COVID-19 situation, the number of people carrying rice had to be drastically reduced. This year, in particular, to set an example in observing quarantine rules, the event was omitted and only a small number of people moved the rice. The staff in charge had a hard time persuading residents who wanted to help unload the angel’s rice. Nevertheless, participation in sharing following the angel could not be stopped.

Donations of rice and cash gifts from Wolgok 2-dong residents also continued. One hundred local seniors participated in the "10,000 KRW Sharing by 100 Seniors" campaign. Kim**, a 76-year-old senior from Wolgok 2-dong who joined the sharing, said, "Most of the elderly living alone in the neighborhood receive rice sent by the angel. As an elderly person who should be a role model in the village, I participated in collecting 10,000 KRW each from 100 local seniors to share even a small happiness like the angel."

Seungro Lee, mayor of Seongbuk-gu, emphasized, "Due to COVID-19, marginalized neighbors are living with even greater loneliness. The beautiful story unfolding in Wolgok 2-dong not only provides emotional support by showing that warm-hearted neighbors exist for those isolated but also creates a virtuous cycle of good deeds where those who receive help go on to help others. We will strive to further honor the angel’s intentions."

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