No small number of individuals are coming into the Hankyoreh with money they worked hard at putting together in order to join in the development fund fundraising campaign the Hankyoreh is operating under the banner of its "Second Founding." A motorcycle messenger gave a day's worth of pay saying it was an expression of his heart, and one civil servant said he was repaying a debt of the mind only now after having been unable to join as a shareholder 17 years ago when the Hankyoreh first began. We carry a new sense of resolve as we listen to their expectations and demands.
Of the many donations with unique stories we are particularly moved by the gift of W5.02 million from the Bappeo Nanum Campaign Headquarters, featured on Wednesday's front page. Led by Rev. Choe Il Do, the organization has been providing meals to elderly and homeless people, and allows people to voluntarily pay W100 in "pride maintenance" so that they can feel honorable about eating meals there. In other words, money collected by homeless and other people in dire straits every day for the last two years has been given to the Hankyoreh. Even more humbling is that it was not Rev. Choe's idea that the money be given to the Hankyoreh's development fund. The working-level staff and elderly individuals receiving assistance made the decision unanimously.
We agonized a great deal over the question of whether we should accept donations scraped together by some of the most alienated people in our society, and in the end we decided to honor their noble intentions. As we meditate on the significance of their donations we prepare to be even more ahead of the rest in building a society where people can live like human beings, a society were no one is neglected, and a society that is overflowing with warmth. At the same time we will maintain continued interest and spare no effort in helping the Bappeo Nanum Campaign Headquarters, the Dail Angels' Hospital, and their related programs. We again thank the shareholders, readers, and all others who have participated in the development fund fundraising campaign.
The Hankyoreh, 23 June 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
Tear-Jerking Donations to the Hankyoreh |
