Immigrant Painter Donates 100 Million Won to Support Single Mothers in Hometown Gwangju Area

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Artist Lee Min practiced warm sharing for single mothers in his hometown, the Gwangju area.

According to the Gwangju Community Chest of Korea (Chairman Han Sangwon) on the 8th, artist Lee Min recently donated 100 million won and joined as the 136th member of the Gwangju Honor Society. He is the first artist from the Gwangju-Jeonnam region to join.

The joining ceremony was attended by Han Sangwon, Chairman of the Gwangju Community Chest of Korea; Koo Je-gil, Chairman of the Gwangju Honor Society; Kim Seon-nam, President of Jeonnam Maeil; Lee Hyun-jun, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency; artist Lee Min and his family, among others.

Artist Lee Min said that in December 2018, after 26 years, he held a solo exhibition in his hometown Gwangju and decided to save all the proceeds from the sale of his works to donate 100 million won.

The proceeds collected over about 3 years and 4 months were donated and are expected to support three places including Inaebokjiwon, a facility for single mothers.

Lee Min said, “Walking the path of an artist is difficult and challenging, but I think my donation might help lead other artists to share as well,” and added, “I hope the donated funds can be of some help to single mothers raising children even in difficult situations.”

Meanwhile, the Honor Society is a group of high-value individual donors of the Community Chest of Korea. Members qualify by pledging to pay 100 million won or more either as a lump sum or within five years, aiming to solve community problems and foster a mature donation culture to promote the development of the social community.

In the Gwangju area, a total of 136 members, 5 Familia Honor members, and 20 Couple Honor members are leading the culture of sharing.

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