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

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

Governor Kim made these remarks on the 17th at the '2025 Gyeonggi Province Volunteer Convention' hosted by the Gyeonggi Province Volunteer Center at SINTEX in Hwaseong, stating, "This represents 30% of the Gyeonggi Province population. On behalf of the hearts of 14.2 million Gyeonggi residents, I offer my deepest gratitude to all of you."

He continued, "Volunteering seems to have an addictive quality that makes you want to continue once you start. And it has a contagious effect that makes you recommend it to those around you. When I entered earlier, someone at a booth asked me to describe how I felt while volunteering in one word, and without hesitation I wrote 'addiction.' The 4.22 million volunteers in Gyeonggi Province are truly admirable people who have become addicted to volunteering themselves and spread this contagion to those around them."

Governor Kim stated, "The volunteers in Gyeonggi Province have rushed not only throughout Gyeonggi but to anywhere help is needed. In March last year, they visited the site of the Pocheon Air Force friendly fire incident and the Andong forest fire site, and in April the Sinhasan Line collapse accident, doing their best in these situations. Gyeonggi Province will expand various programs for volunteers and will spare no support we can provide. This year, we are increasing the volunteer organization project scale from 340 to 390 projects, a 15% increase."

He further emphasized, "Through these efforts, I hope we can all work together to make Gyeonggi Province a warm and humane place. Let us all commit ourselves sincerely to making Gyeonggi Province a warm place where people can truly live."

Governor Kim also personally introduced special volunteers including Kim Yun-ju, newly selected as 'Do-jabongi' (Gyeonggi Province-level volunteer) for achieving 20,000 cumulative volunteer hours, and Jung Hwa-il, age 93, the oldest volunteer, selected as 'Eun-jabongi' (Silver-level volunteer) for achieving 10,000 hours.

Kim Yun-ju, an education instructor from Anyang newly selected as 'Do-jabongi,' has been providing learning guidance volunteer services for low-income children at small libraries and community children's centers for 20 years, serving as a model. Jung Hwa-il, a Korean War veteran, is engaged in volunteer activities for vulnerable groups' meals and welfare center support in Suwon.

This convention was organized to encourage and commemorate the dedication and efforts of volunteers, and was planned as a festival gathering 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 certification plaques from the Gyeonggi Province Governor to 'Do-jabongi' (volunteers with 20,000+ hours) and other volunteers with 5,000+ hours △Various experience booths and exhibitions spreading the value of volunteering △Celebratory performances, serving as an occasion to honor the noble spirit of volunteers and express gratitude.

Gyeonggi Province annually selects volunteers with 100+ hours of service in the previous year or 5,000+ cumulative hours as outstanding volunteers, designated as 'Do/Gold/Silver/Bronze-jabongi,' and this year a total of 32,262 volunteers were selected. Outstanding volunteers receive various benefits including outstanding volunteer certificates, discounts at affiliated merchants, overseas training opportunities, and presentation of outstanding volunteer certification plaques.

Meanwhile, the event was attended by over 1,200 people including Governor Kim, Lim Sang-o, Chair of the Gyeonggi Province Council's Safety and Administration Committee, Yoon Bong-nam, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Volunteer Center, outstanding volunteers from the province, and officials from municipal and county volunteer centers.