Youth volunteer leader received medical cost support during cancer treatment before joining Seoul's youth volunteer program; over 830 participants have delivered thank-you letters to 1,580 frontline civil servants over two years; the program has completed 416 projects in three years

Dubai Chewy Cookies delivered to firefighters at Seongdong Fire Station as part of the "Connecting Hearts" gratitude project. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]
Dubai Chewy Cookies delivered to firefighters at Seongdong Fire Station as part of the "Connecting Hearts" gratitude project. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]

A young cancer survivor's gratitude for the help she received during her illness has grown into a volunteer movement that has mobilized hundreds of citizens.

Choi Eun-jeong, team leader of the "Connecting Hearts" unit within the Seoul Volunteer Center's youth volunteer program, is now in her third year of activity. Her journey began during her college years, when she was able to continue cancer treatment thanks to a staff welfare fund at Severance Hospital and donations collected from across the country.

"Thanks to the support of so many people whose names and faces I never knew, I was able to get through that difficult time and stand back up," Choi said. "The warmth I received then became the driving force behind my volunteer work — I wanted to give that warmth back to society and be someone who gives others strength."

That sense of gratitude took shape through a community contribution project she designed herself. Choi joined the Seoul Volunteer Center's youth volunteer program in 2024 and launched the "Connecting Hearts" project with the aim of expressing appreciation to firefighters, police officers and other civil servants who dedicate themselves to public safety — and, in doing so, spreading the values of respect and consideration throughout society.

Her sincerity resonated widely. Over the past two years, a total of 830 participants — including elementary school students and members of the general public — joined the effort. Together they delivered handwritten thank-you letters and messages of encouragement to 1,580 uniformed civil servants on the front lines, including staff at the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters, the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Special Rescue Unit 119 and Yongsan Police Station.

"Witnessing this virtuous cycle of gratitude — where the goodwill I once received leads to more acts of kindness — gives me a deep sense of fulfillment," Choi said.

The youth volunteer program is a project-based initiative in which young people independently identify community issues and plan and carry out practical solutions to address them.

Now in its third year, the program focuses on four areas: responding to environmental and climate crises, supporting socially vulnerable groups, bridging education and opportunity gaps, and restoring community ties.

A key feature is a collaborative model that combines the creative ideas of young people with resources from businesses and public institutions, generating two core values: solving social problems and strengthening youth capabilities.

Any Seoul resident between the ages of 19 and 39 is eligible to participate, and members receive professional training and mentoring from the planning stage through to execution.

Since its launch, the program has established itself as a leading platform for youth-driven social problem-solving. It started in 2024 with 96 teams and 629 participants, grew to 170 teams and 1,042 participants in 2025, and this year counts 150 teams and 878 participants — reflecting sustained interest and engagement from young people.

Over the past three years, a total of 2,549 young people have taken part in 416 projects, driving social change across areas including climate action, support for vulnerable groups and community rebuilding.

Song Chang-hun, director of the Seoul Volunteer Center, said the center would continue to expand support — including tailored education, expert mentoring and inter-agency cooperation networks — "so that young people can grow into the driving force behind social change."


ikson@heraldcorp.com