UzAuto Korea CEO Eshanov Bakhtiyar Gulyamidinovich, center, and Friends of Hope, Korea Food for the Hungry International (KFHI) Chairman Yoo Won-sik, second from left, pose at the charity's headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday, as the Uzbek CEO became a member of the organization's Philanthropy Club for his donation of 100 million won ($75,000) last December. Courtesy of KFHI

An Uzbek businessperson who leads the Korean subsidiary of the country's state-run carmaker, UzAuto Korea, donated 100 million won ($75,000) to Friends of Hope, Korea Food for the Hungry International (KFHI) to help the children of multicultural and marginalized families here, the international relief organization said Monday.

The charity said UzAuto Korea CEO Eshanov Bakhtiyar Gulyamidinovich became the first foreign member of its Philanthropy Club, established in 2014 to honor patrons who donate 100 million won or more.

Born in Uzbekistan, he joined Uz-DaewooAuto in 1993 to work at Central Asia's first car factory, which was set up by a joint venture between Korea's now-defunct Daewoo Group and the Uzbek government.

He received training for the job in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.

In 1998, he enrolled in an MBA program at Ajou University in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. He was transferred to UzAuto Korea in 2003 and started leading the company in 2010.

He reportedly refused the KFHI's proposal of using his donation for emergency relief in Ukraine or African nations, as he wanted to use the money for Korea which contributed to Uzbekistan's automotive industry.

The organization subsequently decided to use his donation to support children of multicultural and marginalized families here. The UzAuto Korea CEO also said he intends to continue working with the KFHI to support single mothers and older adults living alone.

"His donation showed that migrants having diverse backgrounds have had positive impacts on our society," KFHI Chairman Yoo Won-sik said.

In January, UzAuto Korea's corporate body donated 100 million won to Community Chest of Korea to support those in need.