Ahn Jeong-yong / Courtesy of Ministry of Health and Welfare

A father of eight from Jeongeup has been awarded a government honor on World Population Day, recognizing his unique approach to raising children and his extensive contributions to students in his community, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Sunday.

Ahn Jeong-yong, 57, was awarded the Civil Merit Medal at an annual ceremony hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety at the Westin Josun Seoul hotel on Thursday. He was recognized for his dedication to raising his children, his financial support for a school in North Jeolla Province, and his contributions to city policies aimed at improving community environments for children.

"Would I have been richer and freer if I stayed single? Is helping my community putting me at a disadvantage? To tell you the truth, living with my children and coexisting with my community have always been what got me going forward," Ahn said.

Ahn said that he loves children and admitted that raising them has never been easy, but he finds great joy in being with them.

He has been residing in an apartment, but is now planning to move into a new house that is currently being built for his family.

Ahn's affection for children extends well beyond his own family. Since 2010, he has been a generous donor to Daeheung Elementary School in Jeongeup, where he himself graduated. He began his philanthropic efforts by contributing funds to support the school's overseas trips, ensuring that students from underprivileged backgrounds could have valuable educational experiences abroad.

When the COVID-19 pandemic led to strict government regulations on overseas trips in 2020, Ahn redirected his charitable donations to help students at the elementary school. He gave 1.2 million won (about $871) to each student from financially struggling households and also provided an extra 500,000 won to students who were either new to the school or graduating.

Following Ahn's generous donations, the elementary school began to see a surge in interest from parents eager to enroll their children. To further support the school's growth, Ahn persuaded his fellow alumni to donate a school bus, which improved access for students. Thanks to these combined efforts, the student body at the school has grown from 30 to over 60.

"There are cases where parents leave rural communities because of under-funded educational environments there," Ahn said. "Creating a positive atmosphere at the school should take precedence over worrying about whether children will get into a good university. A supportive and nurturing environment at the school lays the foundation for students' future success."

Ahn believes that government support for families with children is essential for encouraging good parenting. He knows from personal experience how tough it can be without such services, recalling a time when he and his wife had to travel almost 50 kilometers to a hospital in Jeonju for the birth of one of their children.

"The importance of government welfare for families with children is highlighted by the fact that many pediatricians and obstetricians are closing their practices due to a lack of patients," Ahn said. "There seems to be a greater focus on the challenges of child-rearing rather than on its rewards."