Hong Ra-hee, honorary director of the Leeum Museum, received the National Medal of Honor this year. Her contributions, which began with volunteer work in a Hansen's village in 1980, have expanded over 40 years to include donations of cultural heritage and support for pediatric cancer and rare disease patients.
On October 26, Samsung reported that Hong was also awarded the Red Cross Gold Medal in 2024.
Following the passing of her husband, the late Lee Kun-hee, Hong has engaged in significant social contributions alongside his family. In 2021, Lee donated over 23,000 artworks he had collected throughout his life to the state and allocated 1 trillion won to the medical sector.
The donated items include national treasures such as Jeong Seon’s 'Inwangjesaekdo' and works by prominent domestic and international artists. Since 2021, the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art have held 35 exhibitions of the 'KH Collection,' attracting a cumulative audience of 3.5 million. Since November of last year, a special overseas tour has been underway, connecting the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the British Museum. This marks the first large-scale special exhibition of Korean art at the British Museum in 42 years, since 1984.
During the planning of the touring exhibitions, Hong collaborated with art community figures and supported the inclusion of key works from the Leeum and Hoam Art Museums. She attended events at the Smithsonian and the British Museum alongside her family to promote Korean art.
In the medical field, 300 billion won of the 1 trillion won donation has been allocated for the treatment and research of pediatric cancer and rare diseases. Based on this, the 'Lee Kun-hee Pediatric Cancer and Rare Disease Support Project' was launched, benefiting approximately 28,000 patients to date. The remaining 700 billion won is being invested in building a central infectious disease hospital and expanding research facilities for treatments and vaccines, contributing to the national infectious disease response system. In 2024, Hong visited Seoul National University Children's Hospital to encourage patients and their families.
Hong's philanthropic efforts began much earlier. In 1980, after learning about the struggles of Hansen's disease patients during a lecture by the women's volunteer group 'Bul-i-hui,' she established a connection with the Seong Lazarus Village in Uiwang. Starting the following year, she visited the village with sugar and daily necessities, continuing to deliver food and medical supplies annually. On January 9, the birthday of the late Lee Kun-hee, she provided food for the residents to last a year and contributed to improving living conditions, including restroom renovations.
Her relationship with the Red Cross spans 36 years. She began her involvement in 1990 as a special advisory member for women's volunteer activities and worked as a sales clerk at Red Cross bazaars for over a decade. Since 2001, she has made regular donations and became a founding member of the 'Red Cross Honors Club' in 2016. Last year, she joined the 'Red Cross Honors 1 Billion Club' and donated 500 million won for mobile shower units for disaster victims and relief workers.
Hong has also supported youth and vulnerable groups. She donated 1 billion won to the Youth Happiness Foundation to assist at-risk youth with temporary protection, psychological counseling, and vocational training. Additionally, she contributed 355 million won to the Yongsan Welfare Foundation to help vulnerable groups with heating and living expenses. She supports initiatives like 'Friends of Love' for vulnerable children and youth and 'Shoulder to Shoulder' for North Korean children, and participates in preserving traditional Buddhist culture and social welfare projects in the religious community.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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