Kim Dong-yeon: "Gyeonggi Province With 4.22 Million Volunteers Becoming a Humane World"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gapdong] Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province said, "With 4.22 million volunteers, Gyeonggi Province is becoming a humane world."

Governor Kim made the remarks at the '2025 Gyeonggi Province Volunteer Conference' held at SINTEX in Hwaseong on the 17th, hosted by the Gyeonggi Province Volunteer Center. He continued, "This represents 30% of Gyeonggi Province's population. On behalf of all 14.2 million residents of Gyeonggi Province, I express my deep gratitude to these volunteers."

He added, "Volunteering seems to have an addictiveness that keeps you going once you start. And it also has a contagiousness that makes you recommend it to people around you. When I came in earlier, I was asked at one booth to write in one word how I felt during volunteer activities, and without hesitation, I wrote the word 'addiction.' The 4.22 million volunteers in Gyeonggi Province are wonderful people who become addicted to volunteering themselves and spread this contagion to those around them."

Governor Kim said, "Gyeonggi Province volunteers have rushed to help wherever it was needed, not just in Gyeonggi Province. In March last year, they went to the site of the friendly-fire accident at Pocheon Air Force Base and the wildfire site in Andong, and in April, they responded to the Shillim Ansan Line collapse, doing their best at each location." He added, "Gyeonggi Province will expand various programs for volunteers and spare no support we can provide. This year, we are increasing the scale of volunteer organization projects from 340 to 390, a 15% increase."

He further emphasized, "Through these efforts, I hope we can all work together to make Gyeonggi Province a warm and humane world. Let us all give our sincere best to make Gyeonggi Province a warm place, a world where people truly live."

Governor Kim personally introduced special volunteers at the event, including Kim Yun-ju, newly selected as 'Do Ja Bongi' (a designation for volunteers with 20,000 cumulative volunteer hours), and 93-year-old Chung Hwa-il, the oldest volunteer, selected as 'Eun Ja Bongi' (for 10,000 hours).

Kim Yun-ju, an education instructor in Anyang City newly selected as 'Do Ja Bongi,' has been a role model for 20 years, providing tutoring services to low-income children at small libraries and community children's centers. Chung Hwa-il, a 6.25 Korean War veteran, is engaged in volunteer work supporting meal services and welfare facilities for vulnerable populations in Suwon City.

This conference was organized to encourage and commemorate the dedication and hard work of volunteers, and was planned as a festive gathering with more volunteers ahead of the official Volunteer Day (December 5th).

Held under the slogan 'We Remember Volunteers Every Day, Every Moment,' the event consisted of △awarding Governor's Certificates of Recognition to newly selected 'Do Ja Bongi' (volunteers with 20,000 or more volunteer hours) and volunteers with 5,000 or more cumulative hours △an exhibition featuring various experiential booths promoting the value of volunteerism △celebration performances, commemorating the noble volunteer spirit of volunteers throughout the province and expressing gratitude.

Every year, Gyeonggi Province selects volunteers with 100 or more hours in the previous year or 5,000 or more cumulative hours as outstanding volunteers designated 'Do, Geum, Eun, Dong Ja Bongi' (Gold, Silver, Bronze designations), and this year a total of 32,262 volunteers were selected. Outstanding volunteers receive various benefits including certificates of recognition, discounts at affiliated merchants, opportunities for overseas training, and presentation of recognition certificates.

Meanwhile, the event was attended by over 1,200 people, including Governor Kim, Lim Sang-oh, Chairman of the Safety and Administration Committee of Gyeonggi Province Council, Yoon Bong-nam, President of the Gyeonggi Province Volunteer Center, outstanding volunteers from the province, and officials from city and county volunteer centers.