Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation Collaborates with Designers with Developmental Disabilities to Support Independence

'Angel's Talent Medal' series images. Provided by Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corporation

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation supports the independence of people with developmental disabilities through collaboration with designers with developmental disabilities.

The Mint announced on the 13th that it plans to launch the 4th series of the commemorative medal "Angel's Talent Medal," designed by people with developmental disabilities, within this year.

The Angel's Talent Medal series is planned and released in cooperation with "Kimu," a company that employs people with developmental disabilities. The 4th commemorative medal, themed "Reply, Republic of Korea," aims to inspire confidence in the public by depicting the growth story of Korea.

The collaboration between the Mint and designers with developmental disabilities began in 2019. A portion of the sales revenue from the commemorative medals produced through this collaboration is used as employment support funds for people with developmental disabilities.

By year, the "Angel's Talent Zodiac Medal" was produced and sold in 2019, "Art Gallery in the Wallet" in 2020, and "Constellation Medal" in 2021.

During this period, over 5,000 Angel's Talent Medals (worth approximately 1.9 billion KRW) were sold, and the Mint paid about 100 million KRW in royalties (5%) to Kimu.

In particular, Kimu uses the royalties received to hire additional people with developmental disabilities, thereby expanding the significance of the Angel's Talent Medal project. Since 2019, Kimu has employed a total of 23 designers with developmental disabilities.

The collaboration between the Mint and Kimu also led to Kimu's participation in Samsung Electronics' Eco Pet House Challenge. The Eco Pet House Challenge is a project that recycles discarded television boxes to create houses for companion dogs, with Kimu's designers with developmental disabilities participating in the design work.

A portion of the sales revenue from the Angel's Talent Medals is also donated to the "Purume Social Farm," a job creation project for young people with developmental disabilities.

"Purume Social Farm" is an eco-friendly agricultural cultivation facility established by the Purume Foundation in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. The foundation's purpose is to create a workplace with a virtuous cycle of "work-leisure-healing" that guarantees a stable work environment, appropriate economic income, and psychological stability for young people with developmental disabilities.

Ban Jang-sik, President of the Mint, said, "The Angel's Talent Medal is a model commemorative medal project that the Mint should pursue, as it pays part of the proceeds as royalties to support the employment of other people with developmental disabilities," adding, "Consumers can also feel proud knowing that the commemorative medal they purchase helps the independence of people with developmental disabilities."

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