Concern Worldwide said it held a pledge ceremony on the 23rd at its Seoul office. At the donor’s request, his name and identifying details were not disclosed.
The pledger is a man in his 70s who has made monthly donations to Concern Worldwide since 2021. He began by giving 50,000 won a month, gradually increased the amount, and now donates 350,000 won each month.
The donor said he lived through the Korean War as a child and later made a living working on deep-sea fishing vessels. Based on those experiences, he has said he wanted to help people suffering from hunger and poverty.
Legacy giving is a form of donation in which a person pledges during their lifetime to use part or all of their assets for the public good after death. It can include cash as well as real estate, stocks and insurance, and can be arranged through notarized wills or trust arrangements that serve as will substitutes.
The donor said he decided to make the pledge because he understands hunger firsthand.
“Because I know how painful hunger is, I wanted to donate the money I saved over my lifetime to help people in difficult circumstances,” he said. “I hope the assets I leave behind can have a positive impact on the world.”
He also described how he first connected with the organization. “By chance, I saw Concern Worldwide’s advertisement at a bus terminal, and it brought back memories of the hungry days in the past, so I started donating,” he said. “I was grateful to learn there was a way to help.”
Lee Jun-mo, Concern Worldwide’s representative, said legacy giving is a way to ensure a donor’s intentions reach those who need help most. He called the pledge “a meaningful promise” reflecting the donor’s convictions, and said the organization would do its best to use the donation where it is most needed.
Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organization working to address hunger and extreme poverty. It runs programs in vulnerable regions worldwide, including health and nutrition, livelihoods, education and humanitarian assistance. The organization said it also provides procedures and guidance through major and legacy giving programs so donors’ intentions can support projects in the world’s poorest areas.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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