Kim Hyun-joo Finds Relief from Personal Grief in Charity

Kim Hyun-joo with Bangladeshi children

Kim Hyun-joo made her first public appearance on July 22 since her father's death on July 7. Kim took part in an event by Good Neighbors, an international humanitarian and development non-governmental organization, on July 22 and then went on a nine-day volunteer trip to Bangladesh from July 25 to Aug. 2.

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Despite her grief, Kim put on a smile during the trip to raise awareness of children around the world who suffer from poverty. Kim delivered presents to poor households in Bangladesh, helped bathe children, and led art classes and other recreational activities. She donated the condolence money collected for her father's funeral to Good Neighbors; it will be used to build libraries in 11 orphanages in slum areas of Dhaka. "I literally fled to Bangladesh after a series of personal tragedies, but I was consoled by the smiles of children who are living in these dire conditions. The act of sharing has given me strength to live", she says.

Kim has been consistently involved in volunteer work. She sponsors a child she met during a volunteer trip to the Philippines in January, and has been working as an instructor for several classes held by Good Neighbors, teaching elementary schoolchildren about poverty around the world. She has also been campaigning for prevention of child abuse. In May, she was appointed goodwill ambassador for Good Neighbors.