[The Police File]The Faceless Angel of Charity

On the cold winter day of the 4th, Salvation Army charity kettle volunteers were conducting fundraising activities in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

About three years ago around this time, a rare theft incident occurred in Nosong-dong, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do. The crime targeted donation money. The so-called "faceless angel" had been leaving a considerable amount of cash near the Nosong-dong Community Center every year at the end of the year for the past 20 years, and the criminals aimed for this money. They waited for the moment and stole a box containing about 60 million won in cash. Thanks to a citizen who suspiciously noted down the license plate number of the suspects’ vehicle, which had been lingering for a long time with its number plate concealed, the perpetrators were caught about four hours after the crime. The donation money was recovered and delivered to underprivileged neighbors according to the angel’s wishes. When this unprecedented incident occurred, everyone was worried that the warm-hearted gesture might be interrupted, but the angel did not give up. He came again the following year and, without fail, this year as well.

Two days ago in the morning, a call came to the Nosong-dong Community Center. The caller left a brief message saying that a box had been placed under a vehicle of a nearby church daycare and asked that it be used to help neighbors in need. Inside the box he left were several bundles of 50,000 won bills, a piggy bank, and a letter, similar to previous times. The letter read, "I hope this can be a small help to students who have to give up their dreams due to lack of university tuition and to child-headed households." The total cash amounted to about 76 million won. The piggy bank was filled with 10, 50, 100, and 500 won coins. These traces show that the money was saved carefully throughout the year, which is heartwarming. His good deeds have continued without fail for 23 years from 2000 to this year. The total amount he has left over the years reaches a staggering 884 million won.

As the year-end cold wave approaches, the Salvation Army’s charity kettle bells ring on the streets again this year. However, the warmth of generosity seems to be less than before. The soaring prices combined with the economic downturn have dampened the spirit of giving. The "Love Thermometer" reflects this reality. This year’s target amount is 404 billion won, 9.2% higher than last year’s 370 billion won, but the mercury level of the thermometer installed at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul barely exceeded 70 degrees as of the previous day. This is about 8 degrees lower than the same time last year. Even so, individual donations have decreased, and corporate sponsorships are sustaining the thermometer’s mercury level. The number of briquettes donated to the Briquette Bank this year is 250,700, which is half compared to the previous year. There are numerous reports that free meal centers are struggling due to a sharp decline in sponsorship funds. The Bapper Sharing Movement Headquarters in Dongdaemun-gu, which serves hundreds of people daily, is even facing demolition due to illegal building expansion issues. Vulnerable elderly people who used to visit have frequently left hungry.

This winter is tougher than ever. The good deeds of faceless angels who help neighbors without revealing themselves feel even warmer and more heartfelt because of this. Donations come without conditions or strings attached. Without a genuine heart of 'sharing,' it cannot be done. The sense of fulfillment from helping others can only be felt by those who have experienced it. Shakespeare praised charity as "a virtue doubly blessed, blessing both the giver and the receiver, the greatest of virtues." Donations are seeds of hope that help neighbors standing on the brink of despair to stand up again, and this season reminds us anew that kindness deepens the more it is given and love grows the more it is shared.

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