Group has backed Myeongdong Bapjip since 2021

10-year commitment to total 2.1 billion won

Dongkuk Steel Mill Group Vice Chairman Jang Se-wook (left) and Myeongdong Bapjip Center Director Baek Gwang-jin pose for a photo at a sponsorship renewal ceremony held at the Catholic Center in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. [Dongkuk Steel Mill Group]
Dongkuk Steel Mill Group Vice Chairman Jang Se-wook (left) and Myeongdong Bapjip Center Director Baek Gwang-jin pose for a photo at a sponsorship renewal ceremony held at the Catholic Center in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. [Dongkuk Steel Mill Group]

Dongkuk Steel Mill Group has pledged to extend its support for Myeongdong Bapjip, a free-meal center serving homeless people and elderly individuals living alone, for another five years. Having donated a cumulative 1.1 billion won ($777,000) over the past five years, the group plans to contribute an additional 1 billion won through 2030.

The group held a second-phase sponsorship signing ceremony Friday at the main building of the Catholic Center in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, committing to five more years of support following its initial five-year partnership. Vice Chairman Jang Se-wook attended the event, signed the agreement and presented this year's contribution of 200 million won.

Under the original long-term sponsorship agreement, the group donated a cumulative 1.1 billion won over five years from 2021 through 2025. Under the renewed agreement, it will contribute 200 million won annually through 2030, for an additional total of 1 billion won.

Myeongdong Bapjip opened in 2021 as a free-meal center in the Myeong-dong neighborhood of Seoul, providing meals to neighbors who struggle to eat regularly, including homeless people and elderly individuals living alone.

Jang's connection to Myeongdong Bapjip began with a personal donation. In March 2021, as the pandemic reduced free-meal activities near the group's Eulji-ro headquarters at Ferrum Tower, he donated 100 million won of his own money to the center. That personal gift prompted the group to explore further support, leading to its initial five-year sponsorship commitment.

At the signing ceremony, Vice Chairman Jang, Oh Seung-won of the One Heart One Body Movement headquarters and Center Director Baek Gwang-jin exchanged ideas on ways to promote donations and expand support for Myeongdong Bapjip.

"Consistency is what matters most in giving — not one-time gestures," Jang said. "Many people want to donate but don't know how or find it too complicated, so I hope making it easier through QR codes, card payments and other convenient methods will help build a stronger culture of giving." He added that the group would look for ways to encourage more people to support Myeongdong Bapjip.

Father Baek Gwang-jin, the center's director, thanked the group for its continued partnership. "Thanks to the support we have received, we have been able to build a proper indoor dining environment where both users and volunteers can gather in a comfortable and safe space," he said. He added that the center would continue providing targeted support so that Myeongdong Bapjip could serve as more than just a place for a meal — a space where neighbors can sustain their daily lives and find the strength to get back on their feet.

The group also organized a volunteer service on Friday. About 10 employees from Dongkuk Holdings, Dongkuk Steel Mill and Dongkuk Coated Metal formed two teams that worked in shifts throughout the morning and afternoon, helping with meal service, tidying the dining area and washing dishes.


eyre@heraldcorp.com