Kim Dong-yeon has been making a positive impact on the community through volunteer work for 26 years (since 1999). She has been involved in various roles, including 12 years with the women’s association, 10 years as a secretary for the residents’ council, 10 years at Bupyeong Central Welfare Center, and six years as a volunteer neighborhood coordinator.

Her motivation for volunteering is unique; when her eldest son was six years old, he lost consciousness for 47 days due to an illness. Doctors predicted that he would live with a permanent disability. This life-changing event led Kim to start volunteering to help children with disabilities. Miraculously, her son grew up healthy, reinforcing Kim’s dedication to service.

For the past eight years, Kim has provided nutritious meals to elderly residents during the hottest days of summer. For this task, she wakes up at 5 a.m. to prepare broth, side-dishes, and homemade kimchi. Seeing her elderly friends enjoy the food and express their gratitude brings her great joy.

Additionally, on December 31, at the end of her three-year term as a Bupyeong4-dong resident council secretary, She used the KRW 3 million she had saved (by setting aside KRW 100,000 per month) to prepare and distribute kimchi to local residents. She personally selected the ingredients, salted the cabbage, and mixed the seasoning, ensuring a generous distribution for all.

Speaking about her work, Kim stated, “I believe that 75 is the retirement age for volunteering. Serving as a volunteer should not present a burden to others. That’s why, starting this year, I plan to step away from official volunteer organizations and focus on activities that better suit my abilities.”

Reporter: Kim Hye-sook