Stella Foundation spreads happiness in Seoul

Sunday Fun Day III: Stella Foundation founder Cho Jae-hoon (middle) and Happiness Coordinator Kathryn Bokyung Park (to his left) join fitness organization Seoul City Crew and other workshop participants at a yoga and meditation event at Banpo Hangang Park. / Courtesy of Stella Foundation

By Celeste Kriel

The Stella Foundation (SF) has been raising awareness about the importance of mental health, removing the stigma surrounding depression and suicide and sprinkling some happiness around Seoul as they go. The foundation brings people and communities together for fun workshops and programs, which they call "Happiness Boosters."

Cho Jae-hoon, a resident of Seoul and a university student at Korea National Sport University, started the organization after he lost his mother to suicide five years ago. He wanted to start a conversation to change perceptions of mental health. After a 6000-kilometer fundraising cycle trip from Stella Point near Kilimanjaro to the Cape of Goodhope in South Africa, he came back to Korea and started the foundation.

"Since it was depression and not a physical disease, my mom felt she couldn't ask for help. And when she passed away by suicide, our family also didn't feel comfortable sharing her death. It was too much pressure, too taboo, and there was way too much stigma around it. But one day, I realized it's nothing to be ashamed of. Depression is very common and our society needs to become more aware of it," Cho said.

A year ago, Cho met Kathryn Bo-kyung Park at a charity yoga event in what seemed to be a serendipitous moment, and she hopped on board as the "Happiness Education Coordinator" for the Seoul-based foundation.

"I was at a charity yoga event when four people walked in wearing matching shirts. Their shirts caught my eye because it said Stella, which happens to be my mom's Christian name. At the end of the event, I walked up to them and playfully asked, 'Why do you have my mom's name on your shirts?' To this, Jae-hoon replied, 'Wow, it's your mom's name? It's my mom's name too!' It was such beautiful synchronicity that we just happened to be at the same event, at the same venue, they just happened to be wearing the SF shirts, and that both our moms' names happened to be Stella."

Since then, Park, who has struggled with depression for 20 years, has been in charge of creating curriculum for Stella Foundation workshops that are educational, informative, thoughtful, mind-expanding and collaborative. The foundation has just wrapped up an eight-week program called Stella Sunday Fun Day facilitating a variety of events and activities, called "Happiness Boosters," such as a group run to Mount Nam in partnership with the fitness organization Seoul City Crew, and a yoga and meditation event.

"Having strong, supportive relationships is one of the most important factors in being happy and through these interactive workshops, I hope to create that safe space for people to not only show up as they are, but also to connect with one another on a deep, meaningful level," Park said. "Oh, and to have fun!"

She highlighted the importance of raising awareness about the ubiquity of depression in Korea and around the world and providing an open and supportive environment for honest conversations around mental health, and creating a supportive community to help tackle the stigma and the disease as well.

"We want to start the conversations that can change people's lives and the way mental health is perceived. We want people to know depression is real; it's more common than people realize, and it is also treatable. We want people to feel safe to open up honestly about what's going on in their lives. In addition, we want to share the myriad of ways we can add happiness to our lives. We want to create a community of loving individuals who are ready and willing to transform themselves and this country together," Park said.

Cho emphasized the importance of prioritizing mental health in Korea specifically, for both Koreans and expats.

"Korea is a country where we have so much social pressure. Too many people are suffering because of their unbalanced lifestyle. Most people lack sleep, lack exercise, lack community time. On the other hand, people work too much, study too much and drink too much. The social pressures are impacting Koreans, as well as the international communities," Cho said.

Park has used her personal experience with overcoming depression and suicide to help spread the message that recovery is possible with the right support and tools.

"My life has completely transformed in the past decade. I'm human so of course I still feel down from time to time, but for the most part, I experience so much more joy and happiness than I ever thought was possible. I would like for people to know this is possible for everyone," Park said.

For more information on future events and workshops or to volunteer, visit fb.com/stellafoundation. Get in touch with the foundation via info@stellafoundation.com or kat@stellafoundation.

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