Practices Ewha’s Spirit of Sharing and Service, UNAI Korea Board Chairperson Yoo Jung-geun
- Date2021.10.15
- 5524
Board chairperson Yoo Jung-geun of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Koreadedicates herself towards fostering talented individuals for the betterment of society and the future through the practice of sharing and service in her life. To this end, she plays a key role in the establishment and operation of the Globally Responsible and Advanced Citizenship Education (GRACE), a comprehensive education program for holistic global citizenship education, and awards a scholarship through the Gyeongwon Culture Foundation. In addition, she previously served as the first female president of the Korean Red Cross (KRC) and breathed new life into the organization.
Placing Hope into Action, That’s Sharing
Board chairperson Yoo Jung-geun was inaugurated as the first female president of the KRC in October 2011 in the 106 years since its founding, and helped the organization to live up to the trends of a new era by launching the “Windmill of Hope,” a matching program tailored for the four major socially-vulnerable groups, and the “Windmill of Hope Sharing Program,” which integrated the “Healthy Neighbor Center” for the medically underserved and the “Three Million Blood Donation Campaign,” a movement for saving lives through blood donations. Her contributions allowed the KRC to answer the call of the changing times. In addition, she helped to raise the social standing of the KRC through the operation of various programs including efforts to enhance the capabilities of KRC staff by supporting the overseas training of excellent employees each year and carrying out education for volunteers.
Sharing Is an Investment that Creates Hope
After serving as the president of the KRC, board chairperson Yoo is now working with the GRACE School at Handong Global University to lay the foundation for future generations to serve the world as one community and address current global issues such as environmental problems and discrimination through the power of honesty, integrity, and responsibility. Chairperson Yoo remarked, “Our generation’s role is that of a fertilizer. We must create fertile ground in order for trees to grow tall and bear fruits,” and stressed the importance of education for the next generation, “We must help young people, who are our hope and future, to revere God and grow into professional intellectuals equipped with both sound character and intelligence.”
The More You Share, the Happier You Are
Chairperson Yoo, who has strived to practice Ewha’s spirit of sharing, service, and consideration ever since she first encountered Jesus Christ at Ewha, continues to be a stalwart supporter of her alma mater in supporting and praying for Ewha at every moment when the school is in need. Through her love towards Ewha and passion for fostering talented individuals, she has donated a total of 600 million KRW including the annual “Gyeongwon Culture Foundation Scholarship.”
Her family also contributes to her lifelong practice of sharing. Honorary Chairperson Choi Chang-geol of Korea Zinc, who is also her husband, fully shares the educational philosophy of Ewha in nurturing talented individuals worldwide, and continues to support the development of Ewha. Recently, Korea Zinc eagerly donated one billion KRW for the remodeling and reconstruction of Hak-gwan.
Chairperson Yoo expressed the joy of sharing, remarking “The more I think about it, the more certain I am that sharing enriches my life. It might look like I’m giving to others, but I actually receive so much more in the kind of energy that allows me to grow and be happy.”