By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
A woman in her 80s donated as much as three billion won or $3.16 million worth of land to Dongguk University in Seoul Monday, the university said Tuesday.
Lee Soon-hee, 81, donated all the fortune she had saved over the last 50 years to the school with hopes of supporting students suffering from financial difficulties.
She built her wealth through hard work over about half a decade after losing her husband during the Korean War (1950~1953).
``As she believes in Buddhism, she decided to donate the fortune to our college,'' a spokesman at the university said.
``She asked the college to support students in financial trouble with her donation, and bring up students who will play their part well in this society.''
Dongguk University is a private college founded in 1906 on the basis of Buddhism.
It plans to dole out the scholarship next year. It will also spend the money to improve facilities.