'Nguyen Thi Tam Ting' Becomes First Naturalized Foreigner to Receive 'Seoul Volunteer Award'

13 Individual Recipients and 7 Organizations Awarded Seoul Volunteer Awards
Recognizing Unsung Contributors to Building a Cooperative City Seoul

Seoul City has selected Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam Thinh (photo) as the honorable Grand Prize winner of the 34th Seoul Volunteer Awards.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 15th that it has selected ‘Nguyen Thi Tam Dinh’ as the grand prize winner of the 34th Seoul Volunteer Awards.

This year’s grand prize winner, ‘Nguyen Thi Tam Dinh (45),’ is a naturalized citizen from Vietnam who has consistently practiced sharing and dedicated volunteering for 19 years, including Vietnamese interpretation and translation for foreign workers, Korean language classes, and free surgery support projects for Vietnamese children with heart disease. Tam Dinh said, “I started volunteering when I came to Korea as a student and interpreted during police interrogations. I have received help and love from many people, and I wanted to give back, so I have continued volunteering steadily.”

The Excellence Awards were given to Lee Jae-soon, Yoo Wae-soon, Kim Gap-seok, the group Ieumgwa Chaeum, and the corporation Ongi. Lee Jae-soon (62) has contributed to the emotional stability and health recovery of hospitalized patients without guardians and patients with mobility difficulties through warm conversations and bathing volunteer work every week for the past seven years as a volunteer at Seobuk Hospital. Yoo Wae-soon (70) has set an exemplary example by participating in various volunteer activities such as delivering side dishes and meal service with exceptional volunteer spirit to support neighbors in need in the community for the past 18 years.

Additionally, Kim Gap-seok (59) has personally practiced love for neighbors through continuous volunteer work for 36 years, supporting underprivileged child-headed households with donations and scholarships and guiding free funeral procedures. Ieumgwa Chaeum is the first organization in Korea to introduce remote educational volunteering, recruiting and supporting mentors responsible for educational care for vulnerable groups even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The corporation Ongi has been conducting warm daily comfort activities since 2017, contributing to the prevention of depression among Seoul citizens by responding to anonymous letters of concern with handwritten replies.

The Merit Awards were given to nine individuals, including Ko Kyung-ae (female), who devoted herself to youth character education based on her belief in education and healing recovery for sexual violence victims through counseling centers, as well as five organizations such as the ‘Yeongdeungpo-gu Volunteer Federation,’ which practiced sharing with residents in need and supported rural labor assistance activities.

This year’s Seoul Volunteer Awards received a total of 41 nominations (31 individuals, 10 organizations) from autonomous districts, institutions, and citizens from June 16 to August 11. After thorough preliminary verification and strict evaluation by a public merit review committee composed of 13 diverse experts including journalists, professors, and civic groups, the winners were selected.

The Seoul Volunteer Awards ceremony will be held on the 15th at the multipurpose hall on the 8th floor of Seoul City Hall’s main building. At the ceremony, Administrative Deputy Mayor Kim Ui-seung will present plaques to the awardees on behalf of the mayor. Administrative Director Jeong Sang-hoon said, “Through this year’s COVID-19 and flood situations, the necessity of volunteer activities has been felt more than ever. The awardees not only dedicate themselves to volunteering but also serve as role models for many citizens, contributing to the revitalization of volunteerism in Seoul.”

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