Busan is good

Love Thermometer Rising Toward 100 Degrees: The “Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign” Begins Its 62-Day Journey

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that, beginning today (December 1) and continuing through January 31 next year, it will carry out the Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign, a 62-day initiative aimed at raising KRW 10.86 billion.

The Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign is a year-end and New Year charity initiative conducted under the slogan “Giving that adds happiness, Busan transformed through giving.”

Today (December 1) at 10:00 a.m., the kickoff ceremony for Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign will take place at Song Sang-hyeon Square, hosted by the Busan Community Chest of Korea (Chairperson Lee Su-tae).

The ceremony will proceed in the following order: opening, congratulatory remarks, proclamation of the campaign launch, donation presentation by DSR Co., Ltd., awards for distinguished contributors among Honor Society corporate donors, a joint membership ceremony, the lighting of the Love Thermometer Tower, and commemorative photography.

Mayor Park Heong-joon; Lee Dae-seok, Vice Chairperson of the Busan City Council; Kim Seok-jun, Superintendent of Education; Choi Jin-bong, Chairperson of the Association of District Mayors and County Governors; Kim Young-uk, Mayor of Busanjin-gu; Yang Jae-saeng, Chairperson of the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Sohn Young-shin, CEO of the Busan Ilbo; Park Jin-hyeon, Director of KBS Busan Broadcasting; Lee Dong-hoon, Director of DSR; and approximately 50 other guests are expected to attend.

As part of the campaign, the Love Thermometer Tower—an installation symbolizing the warmth extended to neighbors—will be operated at Song Sang-hyeon Square until January 31 of next year. The thermometer rises by one degree each time KRW 110 million is collected, and once KRW 10.86 billion is reached, the Love Thermometer attains 100 degrees. All funds raised will be delivered to neighbors in need throughout the city.

Any citizen who wishes to participate can easily join the campaign by contacting the Busan Community Chest of Korea (☎ 051-790-1400), using donation boxes placed at district and county offices or local administrative welfare centers, donation desks of broadcasting stations, or the automated response system (ARS) at 060-700-0077 (KRW 1,000 per call).

In last year’s Hope 2025 Sharing Campaign, a total of KRW 14.17 billion was raised, achieving 130 percent of the KRW 10.86 billion target. This was the highest fundraising performance since the establishment of the Busan Community Chest of Korea and ranked second nationwide.

Mayor Park stated, “Despite the severe cold, economic downturn, and unstable domestic and international conditions last year, our city exceeded its fundraising goal and experienced the warmest winter ever. This year as well, I ask for the active participation of our citizens so that the Love Thermometer Tower may once again glow warmly through our united goodwill.” He added, “Busan Metropolitan City will continue to pursue citizen-centered welfare policies so that our city becomes a place where everyone would choose to live again.”