Tongil Group holds 2018 Hope Dream Salary Round-Off Distribution Ceremony

On the 13th (Tue) at 2 p.m., the Tongil Group (Chairman, Yun-Gi Choi) held the “2018’s Hope ‘Dream’ Salary Rounf-Off Distribution Ceremony” at the Tongil building, which is located in Mapo, Seoul. Collecting small portions of employees’ salaries resulted in a donation of 54 million won (about $54,000). The Chairman of Tongil group, Yun-Gi Choi, President of the Korean Universal Peace Federation Ki- Seong Lee, as well as executives and staff of the Tongil group and beneficiaries, attended, totaling 30 people.

In 2017, 1,666 employees of 17 companies opted to participate in this program, in order to revitalize the act of social benevolence. Every month, they would donate a small percentage of their own salaries, below 10,000 won (about $10), for a whole year. Six supporting businesses where chosen through a transparent off- and online vote between Tongil group employees and the general public.

The donations were distributed as follows: 17 million won (about $17,000) for “International Marriage Health Promotion Services,” 13 million won (about $13,000) for the “Meal Support Project for Underprivileged Children,” 10 million won (about $10,000) for the building of “Hope Education Centers” supporting the crusade against IT illiteracy, 5.6 million won (about $5,600) for the “Healing Camp for Multicultural Families,” 3.4 million won (about $3,400) for the “Communication Project for Adolescent Children of Multicultural Families” and 5 million won (about $5,000) for “Filial=Best! Family Happiness Project.”

The donation of salary portion contributions was collected from the following companies: Tongil Group, Ilhwa, Yongpyong Resort, Segye Ilbo, Segye Ilbo Productions, Ilsang Marine Industry, Pine Ridge Resort, Seonwon Construction, Ilshin Stone, TIC, Shin Jeung Special Vehicle Development, Seilo, Seil Travel Agency, Seil Tours, JC, Cheongshim International Hospital and Farmsco. The employees of the Tongil Group alone donated 24 million won (about $24,000) in 2013, 35 million won (about $35,000) in 2014, 41 million won (about $41,000) in 2015, 43 million won (about $43,000) in 2016 and 57 million won (about $57,000) in 2017, accumulating a total of 250 million won (about $250,000).

Tongil Group Chairman Yun-Gi Choi offered his words of encouragement: “While living in a society with a different political and cultural atmosphere, multicultural families often face difficulties. However, we can help them live in an independent environment, through a small amount of money. Furthermore, the Tongil Group staff has been donating small portions of their salaries since 2012, and we are now reaching the 7th year of this charity activity. The number of participants rises with every passing year, and we will continue to actively pursue these causes.”

Universal Peace Federation-Korea Chairman Ki-Seong Lee also left a congratulatory message: “If we say “ggeutjeon”(meaning ‘end-part’), we think about something small but when I looked at the Salary Round- Off Event (‘wolgeub ggeutjeon’, literal meaning, the end-part of the salary), I truly understood the meaning of the saying, ‘Many a mickle makes a muckle.’” He also said, “When I heard the report, saying that the employees of the Tongil group raised over 250 million won (about $250,000), I thought that they are playing a significant role. I wish that all the recipients of these donations will shine in the light of filial piety.”

The program of the Distribution Ceremony progressed as follows: progress report of In-Yong Ryu, Department Head of Tongil Group International Cooperation Office, words of encouragement from Yun- Gi Choi, Chairman of Tongil Group, congratulatory message of Ki-Seong Lee, Chairman of Universal Peace Federation-Korea and lastly, the conveyance of the donations and further congratulatory messages.

Until now, the Tongil Group participated in aid activities like supporting extenuating medical expenses for multicultural families, building an elementary school for Syrian refugee camps, a camp for multicultural children with disabilities and scholarships for young people with multicultural backgrounds for alternative universities…