| Kim Ssang-sik, left, and Kim Yeon-hyu are two winners of LG Humanitarian Awards / Courtesy of LG Welfare Foundation |
By Kim Jae-heun
LG Welfare Foundation presented its Humanitarian Award to 47-year-old baker Kim Ssang-sik for sharing free snacks with children in need for over 1 year and 3 months.
Kim runs a bakery in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, and every morning he has been giving out 70 to 100 free bread products to young students walking to school in the town. The baker has also been donating pastries to welfare facilities for the handicapped and community self-sufficiency centers every week.
The foundation said Kim has donated nearly 20 million won ($17,370) worth of bread over the last year to 10 charities.
“I grew up poor and I started this voluntary service hoping that my neighbors don't go hungry like I did. It doesn't take a lot of effort. I just need to wake up a little earlier and bake a little more bread. I live alone and there is not much I need to spend money on, so I want to continue giving out free food to children,” Kim said.
A 48-year-old hairdresser Kim Yeon-hyu is another winner of the LG Humanitarian Award. The hairdresser started giving free haircuts from 1993 at an orphanage in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, and this year is his 28th year of providing the service.
Nowadays, he visits four residential facilities for disabled persons and convalescent hospitals in the town every week. Over 4,000 people received his help so far.
“If my skill can make somebody happy, I am willing to do this voluntary service for my whole life,” Kim said.
The award is to encourage the noble spirit of two winners for their neighborly love who have silently provided services to the community,” a LG Welfare Foundation official said.
The LG Humanitarian Award was created in 2015 to reflect the wishes of late LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo. Koo said that his company should repay people who have made sacrifices for society's benefit, as part of the firm's corporate social responsibility activities.