Starbucks commemorates independence fighter Yun Bong-gil
Starbucks Korea CEO Song Ho-seop, third from right, poses for a picture with officials from The Patriot Maeheon Yun Bong-Gil Memorial Association and Woljin Association for Yun Bong-Gil, after donating 20 million won to charity, at the Patriot Yun Bong-Gil Memorial in Seoul, on April 26. Courtesy of Starbucks Korea
By Kim Jae-heun
Starbucks Korea has donated 20 million won ($15,834) and 1,932 tumblers to The Patriot Maeheon Yun Bong-Gil Memorial Association and Woljin Association for Yun Bong-Gil to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Yun Bong-gil's struggle for independence from Japanese colonialism, which culminated in him throwing a bomb that killed and injured several Japanese officials in Shanghai, the company said Wednesday.
Yun was a Korean independence activist who threw a bomb that killed several Japanese colonial officials at an event organized by the Imperial Japanese Army in Shanghai's Hongkew Park in 1932. Yun was posthumously awarded the Republic of Korea Cordon of the Order of Merit for National Foundation in 1962.
Yun died in 1932 so Starbucks Korea made 1,932 tumblers to commemorate his sacrifice printed with a phrase he wrote that reads, “a man who leaves home will not return alive” ― in other words, independence fighters should be willing to lay down their own lives for liberation from colonialism.
“I hope this charity event will serve as an opportunity for many people, including Starbucks customers, to remember patriot Yun's dedication to Korea's independence. We will continue to contribute to the descendants of independence fighters and to preserve modern cultural relics,” Starbucks Korea CEO Song Ho-seop said.
In 2009, Starbucks Korea signed an agreement with the Cultural Heritage Administration to support the preservation of Korean traditional culture, sponsor the restoration of the Old Korean Legation in Washington, D.C., make donations for independent cultural heritage and offer scholarships for college students.
Starting with the Seokjojeon Hall of Deoksugung Palace in January, Starbucks Korea has joined the “2022 Cultural Heritage Protector” activities with its partners to organize charity events around the country. So far, the company has visited Dongchundang in Daejeon, Hwaseong in Suwon, the Incheon Hyanggyo provincial school, Geumjeongsangseong Fortress in Busan, Muyangseowon Confucian Academy in Gwangju and Gyeongsang Gamyeong Park in Daegu to conduct volunteer cleaning activities of cultural heritage assets in different regions.