Park Soo-hong Donates 10 Million Won to Children's Welfare Center

Broadcaster Park Soo-hong has made headlines for his generous donation of 10 million won to the Aeshin Children's Welfare Center (애신원) in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, a facility he has supported for over 20 years. On June 2, Park visited the center with friends, where he not only donated the cash but also provided 50 boxes of galbitang (beef short rib soup) and 20 sets of kitchen equipment from Haikujin, a brand he endorses.

During his visit, Park shared a delightful meal of pizza and chicken with 32 children from the center, taking time to sign autographs and take photos with them, creating a joyful atmosphere.

Park's connection with Aeshin began in 2001 through a television program, and he has been actively involved in volunteer work there, visiting two to three times a year. Notably, in 2019, he funded the complete removal of asbestos from the center's building before winter. Even in 2021, amidst personal financial struggles due to his brother's embezzlement case, he secretly donated another 10 million won, a fact revealed by the center's director.

Reflecting on his experiences, Park stated, "Rather than saying I helped Aeshin, I feel I gained more strength and comfort from the Aeshin family. Over the past few years, as I started my own family and became a father, I felt I hadn’t been able to support Aeshin as much as I wanted. Seeing the healthy children and the smiling faces of the director and teachers was heartwarming."

He also expressed concern about the declining support for welfare facilities amid economic difficulties, stating, "It’s a sad situation where government support alone is insufficient. We need to find ways to support not just the children but also the hardworking teachers. I will strive to provide more assistance and raise awareness about Aeshin's situation."

In other news, Park Soo-hong is currently embroiled in a legal battle with his older brother, who is accused of embezzling tens of billions of won from Park's management funds between 2011 and 2021. While the first trial found the brother guilty of embezzling 2 billion won of company funds, he was acquitted of charges related to 1.6 billion won of Park's personal funds. Both parties have appealed the ruling, and during the latest court session, the judges requested clarification on the financial circumstances of both sides, noting the disparity in asset accumulation between Park and his brother.