“He Did What Even Family Couldn’t”… Teacher Supports Student Who Lost Father for 7 Years

Pohang Jecheol Jigok Elementary School Teacher Supports Student with Monthly Donations for Seven Years
Foundation Recognizes Teacher’s Kindness After Revelation Through Student’s Mother’s Letter

The story of an elementary school teacher who has continued to donate for seven years to support a student whose family fell on hard times after the loss of his father has touched many people.

Teacher's Day.

According to POSCO Educational Foundation on May 14, the foundation presented a Chairman’s Award and a gift to Teacher A from Pohang Jecheol Jigok Elementary School, which is one of its affiliated institutions. After learning in 2020 that his fifth-grade student, B, had suddenly lost his father, Teacher A has reportedly sent 150,000 won to B’s family every month since then. Teacher A was previously B’s homeroom teacher when B was in first grade.

Teacher A’s good deeds came to light through a letter sent by B’s mother to the foundation. After B’s father passed away, B’s mother became the sole breadwinner overnight, transitioning from a full-time homemaker. In her mid-50s and suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, she supported the family by taking temporary jobs such as restaurant serving and cleaning.

Upon hearing the news, Teacher A said, “I want to at least buy B a meal or a piece of bread,” and added, “Since I earn money, I want to support B until he graduates from high school.” Although B’s mother initially declined, saying she was “not worthy” of such help, Teacher A has continued to send 150,000 won every month from 2020 through the present, now for seven years. Nevertheless, Teacher A requested, “Please do not tell anyone about this.”

Then, in March this year, after B’s mother found a stable job, she thought about how to express her gratitude and decided to inform POSCO Educational Foundation of Teacher A’s kindness. In her letter to the foundation, B’s mother wrote, “Every night, I shed tears of gratitude for the teacher as I stare at the ceiling. He did something that even close family could not do,” adding, “I want to shout about Teacher A’s love for his students from the bamboo forest.”

POSCO Educational Foundation, which only learned about the story later, recently presented Teacher A with a Chairman’s Award and a gift. Even after receiving the award, Teacher A firmly refused to have his name or face revealed. It is reported that Teacher A plans to continue his donations until B, who is now a second-year high school student, graduates.

A representative of the foundation said, “Teacher A’s good deeds are a warm miracle that helped a family stand on its feet and serve as an inspiring example for all educators.”

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