Park In-bee Makes W100 Million Donation to Charity

Published on 2016/09/04 | Source

Park In-bee's contrasting pale feet and tanned legs are clearly visible as she poses for photographs at the Community Chest of Korea in Seoul on Thursday.

Golfer Park In-bee donated W100 million to the Community Chest of Korea on Thursday, joining the charity's Honor Society for donors who have given W100 million or more (US$1=W1,123).

Park won the gold medal in women's golf at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.

Park's charity work began in 2008, when she donated some W60 million, or 10 percent of her prize money for winning the U.S. Women's Open. She said her parents had encouraged her to help others after she started earning big money at a young age.

"I am thankful for the support I received from the public during the Olympics", Park said. "I will be happy if I can help aspiring golfers and athletes in need".

The donation will be used to fund training and scholarships for young golfers and athletes from low-income families.

Park appeared at an event to mark the donation wearing a dress and cardigan, and with a cast on her left hand. The contrast between her pale feet and tanned legs served as a reminder of how hard she has worked to be where she is now.

Park was appointed a promotional ambassador for the charity at the event.

It is the largest public donation Park has made. The golfer seldom reveals her charity work. For the past eight years she has saved W20,000 for every birdie she made and donated it at year's end to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with terminal illnesses. Despite scoring relatively few birdies this year due to an injury, Park said she would give another W10 million to the foundation, taking her cumulative donation to the group to W100 million.

A junior golfing event on Jeju Island sponsored by Park celebrates its third year this year. For the past two years, she has contributed to a non-governmental charity organization that assists victims of internal conflict and poverty in Tonj, South Sudan.

In total, Park has donated over W450 million so far. She said she is considering setting up her own charitable foundation when she retires. "I started donating because my parents told me to, but now it motivates me to try harder and live better", she said.