Mannam to raise funds for Guryong Village

The poster for "Warmth for Winter".

By John Redmond

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Members of the Mannam Volunteer Association are raising funds to purchase coal briquettes and will later deliver them to residents of Guryong Village on Feb. 18 between 1 – 4 p.m.

Under the banner of "Warmth for Winter" the program is focusing on Guryong Village residents who were displaced from their homes to "beautify" Seoul for the 1988 Olympics. They currently live in an unauthorized shantytown near the affluent Tower Palace of Gangnam.

There are about 1,200 families residing there who are unable to receive any government welfare due to their unrecognized territory. On Jan. 29, a fire destroyed homes of more than 17 families.

"Mannam is raising funds to purchase coal briquettes and will deliver them to the needy families in Guryong Village so they can stay warm for the winter. Expats are being asked to help remind these families and the rest of Korea what is most important _ humility in loving and serving others, gratitude for all that we have, and shedding light where ever we go. Anyone can take part in this initiative in one of two ways", states a press release.

Mannam currently has 70,000 members.

Contributions can be deposited into IBK, account number 305-060799-01-017 (Account holder: Mannam volunteer association). Those who make donations should write their name as reference (e.g. Tom Smith Guryong).

To help deliver the coal briquettes to Guryong Village, email mannamvolunteers@gmail.com with the subject "Guryong" or contact BoHye Choi at 010-7142-5322.

The time and meeting point to deliver briquettes is at Dogok Station (line 3 and Bundang line) outside exit 4 at 12:30 p.m.