Cuban-born descendant of Korean independence fighter joins donation campaign

Elizabeth Sanchez Rivero, right, poses with other donators and Lee Seong-heon, center, head of Seodaemun District, during a signing ceremony held at the district office in Seoul, Dec. 11. Courtesy of Seodaemun District Office

A Cuban-born fourth-generation descendant of a Korean independence fighter has joined a neighborhood giving campaign in Seoul, extending her family’s legacy of sacrifice into community service.

According to the Seodaemun District Office on Wednesday, Elizabeth Sanchez Rivero, the great-great-granddaughter of Independence Merit honoree Lee Seung-jun and the owner of a Cuban restaurant, signed onto its “1 Percent Miracle of Sharing” campaign last week.

Under the agreement, participants donate 1 percent of their profits to the local community. The project, launched in 2023, has grown to include 170 participating businesses.

She moved from Cuba to Korea in 2016 and has since settled in Seodaemun, where she runs Desayuno, a restaurant that serves Cuban cuisine and European-style breakfast dishes on the second floor of the Sinchon Youth Food Store.

Her great-great-grandfather is known for supporting the Korean independence movement from Latin America during Japan’s colonial era, including efforts to raise funds overseas. Joining the campaign was a way to carry on that legacy.

“My restaurant has been receiving a lot of love and support from residents, thanks to what my ancestor did for the independence movement,” she said during a signing ceremony held in the district office on Dec. 11. “I wanted to practice sharing, even just a little, with others by carrying on the spirit of those who devoted themselves to this country.”

The same day, the owners of Seoul Respiratory Relief Hospital, Pungseong Samgyeopsal and Etz Hair Salon’s Hongje branch also joined the campaign.

“With one united heart you have joined in this act of sharing, and for that I am truly grateful. I will do my best to ensure that these precious donations are faithfully delivered to residents who are going through difficult times,” said Lee Seong-heon, head of Seodaemun District.