Lee Jong-hun, CEO of Ace Nanochem (left), presents a 100 million won scholarship to Kim Byeong-sam, chairman of the Yeongcheon City Scholarship Foundation, in the name of racehorse Yeongcheon Ace. [Yeongcheon City]
Lee Jong-hun, CEO of Ace Nanochem (left), presents a 100 million won scholarship to Kim Byeong-sam, chairman of the Yeongcheon City Scholarship Foundation, in the name of racehorse Yeongcheon Ace. [Yeongcheon City]

Lee Jong-hun, CEO of Ace Nanochem in Geumho-eup, Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, donated 100 million won ($74,700) to the Yeongcheon City Scholarship Foundation in the name of his racehorse Yeongcheon Ace, the city announced Sunday. The contribution marks the opening of Lets Run Park Yeongcheon and aims to support the development of local talent.

Ace Nanochem produces colloidal silica, an abrasive used in semiconductor manufacturing, and has contributed to the localization of semiconductor materials production.

The racehorse Yeongcheon Ace takes its name from Lee's mother, who is from Yeongcheon, and from the company's name.

Drawing on that connection, Lee began giving back to the community in 2014, when Yeongcheon Ace won its first race, donating 30 million won to the foundation at that time.

Last year, he donated another 100 million won to mark his racehorse Successbaekpa's achievement of 300 wins — the first time an owner had reached that milestone. Including Sunday's donation, Lee has now contributed a total of 230 million won to the Yeongcheon City Scholarship Foundation.

"It is especially meaningful that this scholarship donation comes together with the significant opening of Lets Run Park Yeongcheon," Lee said. "I wanted to express my hope that local talent will run boldly toward their dreams, just as a racehorse charges forward with full force."

Kim Byeong-sam, chairman of the Yeongcheon City Scholarship Foundation and mayor of Yeongcheon, expressed gratitude for the donation. "At this meaningful occasion celebrating the opening of Lets Run Park Yeongcheon, I am deeply thankful that he has connected the spirited energy of a racehorse to the dreams of local talent through this precious scholarship," Kim said.


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com