Busan is good

Warmth Reaches Busan First This Lunar New Year: Busan Metropolitan City to Support Neighbors in Need with KRW 1.9 Billion in Holiday Donations and Aid

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will hold the “2026 Lunar New Year Donation and Aid Ceremony” today (the 6th) at 2:40 p.m. in the City Hall Reception Room, together with the Busan Community Chest of Korea (Chairperson Lee Su-tae, hereinafter referred to as “the Community Chest”). The ceremony is intended to connect, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, donations gathered through citizens’ goodwill directly to the everyday lives of neighbors in need as early as possible.

The ceremony will be attended by Mayor Park Heong-joon, Chairperson Lee Su-tae of the Community Chest, and other key officials.

On this day, the Community Chest will deliver a total of KRW 1.938 billion in Lunar New Year donations and social welfare facility project funding. This includes KRW 1.2 billion in special livelihood assistance for low-income and vulnerable groups and KRW 738 million for social welfare facility support projects.

Compared to the previous year, when total support amounted to KRW 1.77 billion, both the range of beneficiaries and the scope of assistance have been expanded, significantly enhancing the sense of support felt during the holiday season.

The KRW 1.2 billion in special livelihood assistance will be provided to 11,300 low-income and vulnerable households across Busan, with KRW 100,000 allocated per household. In addition, holiday care packages will be provided to two counseling centers for residents living in single-room occupancy housing in Dong-gu and Busanjin-gu, helping these residents observe the Lunar New Year with greater comfort.

This support will be delivered swiftly to households in genuine need, based on recommendations from district and county offices as well as on-site counseling centers.

Furthermore, a total of KRW 738 million in project funding will be provided to 32 social welfare facilities that directly bring about positive change in residents’ lives at the community level.

The funding will support a wide range of initiatives, including projects related to care, health, the environment, and assistance for persons with disabilities, older adults, and migrants, thereby ensuring that community recovery and everyday care continue even after the Lunar New Year holiday.

Through the delivery of donations, the Community Chest has taken the lead each year in practicing neighborly sharing and spreading positive social impact.

Through the “Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign,” the Community Chest raised approximately KRW 14.19 billion, exceeding its target of KRW 10.86 billion and achieving a “sharing temperature” of 130.7 degrees. This demonstrates that, even under challenging circumstances, the participation of Busan citizens in charitable giving has continued steadily.

In particular, the fact that the “Love Thermometer” surpassed its target level without large-scale fundraising tied to specific events such as wildfires or the Lunar New Year underscores the meaningful establishment of everyday giving and community-based sharing as a stable part of life in Busan.

Busan Metropolitan City plans to further strengthen public-private cooperation so that citizens’ voluntary acts of sharing can lead to the recovery of daily life for vulnerable groups and to sustainable change within local communities.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “I am reminded time and again that the more difficult the economy becomes, the more people come together with generous hearts. The greatest reason Busan is called a warm city is each and every citizen who thinks of their neighbors first.” He added, “I hope this Lunar New Year support will not be a one-time form of assistance, but rather a source of reassurance for vulnerable groups and a seed of solidarity for the community. Busan Metropolitan City will continue to work even harder to further spread and promote the city’s inclusiveness and warmth.”