Warm gesture every holiday season — cumulative traditional market shopping support reaches 790 million won

Lee Yun-su (left), chairman of the Korea Securities Depository KSD Nanum Foundation, and Kwon Young-gyu, chairman of the Seoul branch of the Korean Red Cross. [Korea Securities Depository]
Lee Yun-su (left), chairman of the Korea Securities Depository KSD Nanum Foundation, and Kwon Young-gyu, chairman of the Seoul branch of the Korean Red Cross. [Korea Securities Depository]

The Korea Securities Depository KSD Nanum Foundation is supporting vulnerable residents in Seoul in shopping at traditional markets ahead of chuseok.

The foundation announced Wednesday that it donated 33 million won ($24,500) to the Seoul branch of the Korean Red Cross at its Seoul office on Tuesday to fund a chuseok traditional market shopping event.

The donation will allow 220 households in Seoul — including elderly people living alone and grandparent-headed families — to each receive 150,000 won worth of Onuri gift vouchers for use at traditional markets. The shopping event is scheduled to take place at 23 traditional markets across Seoul before chuseok. Korean Red Cross volunteers will accompany each participating household on a one-on-one basis, helping with shopping and providing emotional support through conversation.

The foundation has run its chuseok traditional market shopping support program every year since 2011, making this year the 16th consecutive edition. Last year, it donated the same amount of 33 million won to support 220 vulnerable households in Seoul. The number of participating traditional markets in Seoul has grown sharply, from 13 last year to 23 this year.

The foundation holds the event in Busan for the Lunar New Year holiday and in Seoul for chuseok, supporting vulnerable families with holiday shopping while also contributing to the vitality of traditional markets and local economies.

Including this year's contribution, the foundation's cumulative donations for traditional market shopping events have reached approximately 790 million won, benefiting more than 6,250 households over the years.

"I hope our neighbors enjoy a bountiful chuseok," foundation Chairman Lee Yun-su said. "We will continue to make every effort to practice a spirit of sharing that strengthens our communities."


kacew@heraldcorp.com