Seongdong-gu Achieves 120% of Hometown Love Donation Program Target Amount

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeong Wono) announced that it raised a total of approximately 240 million KRW, reaching 120.5% of the initial target amount of 200 million KRW through the Hometown Love Donation Program last year.

The district collected a total of 240.96 million KRW last year, including 126.33 million KRW in general donations and 114.63 million KRW in designated donations. Compared to the 146.22 million KRW raised in 2023, this is a 65% increase, achieving a cumulative fundraising amount of 387.18 million KRW in just two years since the implementation of the Hometown Love Donation Program.

General donations reached 103.6% of the target amount of 122 million KRW, while designated donations achieved an impressive 147% compared to the target of 78 million KRW.

In particular, the designated donation project, which started for the first time in November last year, achieved this result in just two months, drawing even more attention. The designated donation project has been a key factor driving the high fundraising performance of the Hometown Love Donation Program. Designated donations allow donors to choose a project from those pre-selected by the local government to which they want their donation to be applied. Seongdong-gu is promoting the ‘Self-Reliant Youth Support Project’ as a designated donation project.

Recently, with many young people facing difficult times due to concerns about employment, marriage, and socio-economic factors such as economic downturns, it is analyzed that the ‘Self-Reliant Youth Support Project’ resonated deeply with donors, leading to increased donations.

In reality, youth preparing for independence often face difficulties because they are not sufficiently prepared when they reach the age of 18 (or 24 if protection is extended) and their protection from child care facilities or foster families ends, marking the start of their independent life.

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The Ministry of Health and Welfare provides independence allowances to youth aged 18 to 22 whose protection from facilities or foster families has ended, and local governments also support settlement funds. However, moving costs and monthly rent remain significant burdens for young people.

Accordingly, the district is promoting the ‘Future Companionship, Gift of Ordinary Youth!’ through the ‘Self-Reliant Youth Support Project’ using designated donations. Starting from the year the youth turn 23, when government support ends, they will receive 500,000 KRW per month for one year. Beginning with 13 youths turning 23 in 2025, support will be provided sequentially according to the end of government assistance.

In 2024, Lee Taeseong, Seongdong-gu’s first major donor and CEO of China Plain, donated 5 million KRW to the designated donation project, sending a message of encouragement to young people striving for their dreams.

From this year, the maximum donation amount for the Hometown Love Donation Program will be raised to 20 million KRW. In addition to the currently provided local gift certificates (Seongdong Love Gift Certificates), wristwatches, woodworking crafts, and jade crafts from Seongsu-dong, a wider variety of thank-you gifts will be offered to promote donations.

Jeong Wono, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “The high fundraising performance of the Hometown Love Donation Program is thanks to the interest and affection of many people supporting the development of Seongdong-gu, and I express my deep gratitude. The donations will be used carefully to support the healthy independence of self-reliant youth and will be utilized as valuable resources to make Seongdong-gu an even better place to live. We will continue to strive to activate donations through the Hometown Love Donation Program.”

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