Best Buddies & Yookyoung Praise Market Project
Helping individuals with specific and urgent needs has been my persistent passion. Among those I deeply care about, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) hold a special place in my heart. I co-founded Best Buddies Korea to support and empower them, and I led the Yookyoung Praise Market Project to help them learn essential economic concepts in a practical, engaging way.
One of my most impactful experiences was working with IDD teenagers at Yookyoung School, Korea’s only school for children and teens with IDD. I observed that teachers struggled to teach students the concept of money exchange, as many tried to enter stores without understanding money, often leading to misunderstandings. This inspired me to create a solution: a school-based convenience store to turn learning into an interactive, fun experience. Over a year, I led the project to install a real-like GS convenience store on campus. Now, students with IDD can learn to buy and pay for items in an engaging way.
Developing Art & Career Development Programs for Multicultural Children
Multicultural children, with Korean fathers and mothers from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, now make up about 5% of the population, especially in rural and impoverished urban areas. They often struggle with limited Korean language skills and face emotional challenges beyond poverty.
Starting in my sophomore year, I volunteered at Hope of All Families (HAF), a center supporting children from impoverished and multicultural backgrounds. Many of these children struggled with limited Korean skills and emotional challenges often overlooked by the government. Recognizing this, I developed an art therapy program to help them express their feelings. A key project was painting murals near HAF, where children eagerly shared their emotions and hopes. Their artwork not only reflected their stories but also transformed the center’s environment, giving them a proud voice through art.
Having observed that many multicultural children struggle with identifying their interests and developing their career goals, I designed career development programs for them. By connecting each child with a sponsor who supports their specialized education for a year, the program helps children explore their interests and talents. Additionally, I organized visits to local career centers and exhibitions, allowing children to experience various careers in a fun and engaging way.
Co-Founding the SALT
I participated in SALT, a student volunteer NGO. To formalize and expand its projects nationally and internationally, I led the legal process to obtain official recognition from Seoul City Government. Currently, SALT is the only NGO led by high school students officially recognized by Seoul City.
As a co-founder and active member of SALT, I participated in projects such as building a school for young children in Africa, developing educational materials, and creating tutorials for migrant workers in Korea. The project I led most actively was establishing scholarship programs to support needy children in Korea and abroad. Today, I am proud to have helped over twenty students access education and pursue their dreams.
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