HD Hyundai honors everyday heroes

HD Hyundai 1% Nanum Foundation Chairman Kwon Oh-gap, left, and HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun, right, pose with Jeong Deok-hwan, center, and other winners of the third HD Hyundai Honor Awards during a ceremony at the company's headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Courtesy of HD Hyundai

The HD Hyundai 1% Nanum Foundation, a charity funded by donations from HD Hyundai employees, held the third HD Hyundai Honor Awards ceremony Tuesday to recognize ordinary citizens who have shown extraordinary heroism.

This year’s top prize went to Jeong Deok-hwan, a former Korean national judo team member who became paralyzed during training. In 1983, he founded the Eden Welfare Foundation to help people with disabilities achieve independence by creating job opportunities. He received 150 million won ($102,000) for his four decades of dedication to empowering people with disabilities to live self-sufficient lives.

“Our society has a shared responsibility to support the independence and well-being of people with disabilities,” Jeong said. “I will keep working to raise public awareness so disabilities are not seen as weaknesses or barriers.”

HD Hyundai 1% Nanum Foundation Chairman Kwon Oh-gap said the honorees have made society “warmer and stronger” through their selfless dedication.

The runner-up honor went to Father Kim Ha-jong, founder of Anna’s House, which provides support for homeless people and runaway youth.

The Korea Childhood Leukemia Foundation and Raphael Clinic also received awards. The foundation offers financial and emotional support to children battling cancer and rare diseases, while the clinic delivers medical services to migrant workers, refugees and multicultural families.