Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Charity group named after Mirae Asset founder bolsters children's reading campaign
A mini-bookshelf and books are offered as presents for children this year in Mirae Asset Park Hyeon Joo Foundation's campaign for ideal book-reading environment. Mirae Asset Park Hyeon Joo Foundation
By Yi Whan-woo
A charity organization named after Mirae Asset Financial Group founder Park Hyeon-joo is stepping up its campaign to foster an ideal book-reading environment for children.
Mirae Asset Park Hyeon Joo Foundation said it donated packages of gifts to 900 children in Korea this week to help them get familiar with reading.
Mirae Asset Financial Group founder Park Hyeon-joo / Courtesy of Mirae Asset Financial Group
The children were chosen in cooperation with community centers.
The packages included a mini-bookshelf and books recommended by the foundation as well as the ones that each recipient said they wanted to read in a survey taken in advance.
According to the foundation, the children and also their parents “were greatly satisfied with the gift.”
“The project is anticipated to help children find reading fun and enjoyable, which will make them read books voluntarily as they grow up,” the foundation said.
It expressed hope that the project “ultimately helps children to develop critical thinking, expand depth and breadth of knowledge and form the right principles in their lifetimes.”
With the goal of “bringing a library for children,” the foundation began the project in 2021, expanding its previous program of lending out children’s books in 2012.
A total of 3,600 children have since benefited from the project.
The foundation was set up in 2000, with the primary purpose of offering scholarships for Korean university students going on exchange programs. It widened its programs to younger students to help them grow as future leaders and advance onto the global stage.
A self-made billionaire, Park nurtured Mirae Asset Financial Group as Korea’s leading financial conglomerate after it started in 1997 as a mutual fund management firm.
Park has been serving as the group's global strategy officer since 2018 to oversee international business and investments of affiliates.