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| Han Sung Motor CEO Ulf Ausprung, sixth from left, poses with students at the Mercedes-Benz Cheongdam Showroom in southeastern Seoul, Tuesday, after awarding them certificates for participation in the dealership firm's "Dream Gream" program. / Courtesy of Han Sung Motor |
By Park Jae-hyuk
Han Sung Motor, the nation's largest Mercedes-Benz dealership firm, showcased artwork by young, talented artists at its Cheongdam Showroom in southeastern Seoul, Tuesday.
According to the dealer, the seventh "Dream Gream" year-end exhibition, which was attended by 120 people including students, their mentors and Han Sung Motor employees, was held to praise them for their hard work throughout the year and to encourage the young students to keep chasing their goal.
The company has held the year-end exhibition at the Horim Art Center in Seoul in previous years, but this year's event took place at the German carmaker's showroom that was opened in Cheongdam-dong in 2017.
Unlike the previous events, a video clip showing artwork by students was projected onto the side of a new Mercedes-Benz CLS coupe, during the opening ceremony for the event.
Han Sung Motor CEO Ulf Ausprung awarded certificates to 13 students, who completed the whole Dream Gream program, a scholarship program that the dealership firm started in 2012 to help young students from underprivileged families develop their artistic talent until they graduate from high school.
Students who showed enthusiasm for their dreams, undergraduates who volunteered to be mentors for the students and Han Sung Motor employees who served as Dream Gream ambassadors were also awarded prizes during the event.
"I am sure as people you have grown another step in your social skills this year and also added more richness and colors as well as flavors to your personality," Ausprung said.
"There is always at the year-end an element of sadness since this very unique group is losing some of its key members who are transcending now into another phase of life's journey. I wish you good luck and success in your new endeavors. I am sure this next chapter of your life will take you likewise one step closer to your goals."
In addition to the year-end exhibition, Han Sung Motor helped students exhibit their artwork at the 2018 Craft Trend Fair, the Korea International Art Fair and Seoul Streets Art Festival.
Han Sung Motor also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture in April 2014 to help improve an incubation environment for artists through various programs.
In September 2015, the company participated in a Seoul city project to refurbish Guro Station in western Seoul. The scholarship students joined local artists and citizens to turn an old subway exit into a place of art.
Its continuous efforts to help underprivileged people were publicly highlighted when Ausprung was nominated as an honorary Seoul citizen in November 2016.
