By Lee Hae-rin
A red bean porridge restaurant owner in Seoul has been selected for Seoul City's Hall of Fame, as a "Face of Seoul," for her lifelong contribution to the city.
According to the city government, Monday, Kim Eun-sook, 82, who runs a red bean porridge restaurant in Samcheong-dong in central Seoul, has made 120 donations from her earnings during the past 46 years, totaling over 1.2 billion won ($1 million).
Kim started donating to psychiatric hospitals and social welfare facilities, when her daughter started suffering from a mental health problem at the age of 18. She said that she wanted to help others who are in more dire need of support than herself.
"I just went steady with a monthly donation," Kim told The Korea Times, Tuesday, when asked how and why she could donate such a large sum of money. A bowl of red bean porridge now costs 7,000 won, though it used to cost around 1,000 won at the time Kim started the donation 46 years ago.
Kim runs her restaurant, cooking and selling the porridge with "ssanghwatang" (a traditional Korean herbal tonic tea). Her childhood memory of eating red bean porridge with her mother when the family was taking shelter in Busan as Korean War refugees motivated her to run the restaurant, she said.
"I cannot forget the taste of the red bean porridge that I had back then, when we were so poor. I thought, 'How could there be such a sweet dish?' So I was sure young people these days (who enjoy visiting Samcheong-dong) would appreciate the taste, too," Kim said.
Red bean porridge is known as a traditional food believed to frighten away evil spirits with its red color and maintain a family's health and well-being. People often share it during the winter solstice, which is the shortest day and longest night of the year.
Seoul City has been running the Face of Seoul program to recognize people who have contributed to the well-being of the city's citizens as well as its development, since 2016.
From May to July of this year, the city government received recommendations for 24 individual and seven group nominees. Including Kim, a total of three individuals and one group were selected.
The pictures and accomplishments of the awardees are displayed at City Hall Station and on the wall in Seoul Citizens Hall, located on the basement floor of Seoul City Hall.
The awards ceremony did not take place this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In her official acceptance speech, Kim said, "I am really happy to share what I have with others."
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| Kim Eun-sook, who runs a red bean porridge restaurant in central Seoul, holds a bowl of red bean porridge in this provided photo. She was named a "Face of Seoul" by the Seoul Metropolitan Government for donating 1.2 billion won to mental health hospitals and social welfare facilities over the past 46 years. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government |
According to the city government, Monday, Kim Eun-sook, 82, who runs a red bean porridge restaurant in Samcheong-dong in central Seoul, has made 120 donations from her earnings during the past 46 years, totaling over 1.2 billion won ($1 million).
Kim started donating to psychiatric hospitals and social welfare facilities, when her daughter started suffering from a mental health problem at the age of 18. She said that she wanted to help others who are in more dire need of support than herself.
"I just went steady with a monthly donation," Kim told The Korea Times, Tuesday, when asked how and why she could donate such a large sum of money. A bowl of red bean porridge now costs 7,000 won, though it used to cost around 1,000 won at the time Kim started the donation 46 years ago.
Kim runs her restaurant, cooking and selling the porridge with "ssanghwatang" (a traditional Korean herbal tonic tea). Her childhood memory of eating red bean porridge with her mother when the family was taking shelter in Busan as Korean War refugees motivated her to run the restaurant, she said.
"I cannot forget the taste of the red bean porridge that I had back then, when we were so poor. I thought, 'How could there be such a sweet dish?' So I was sure young people these days (who enjoy visiting Samcheong-dong) would appreciate the taste, too," Kim said.
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| A bowl of red porridge and "ssanghwatang" (a traditional Korean tea made of medical herbs) made by Kim Eun-sook, at her restaurant in central Seoul, Tuesday / Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rin |
Red bean porridge is known as a traditional food believed to frighten away evil spirits with its red color and maintain a family's health and well-being. People often share it during the winter solstice, which is the shortest day and longest night of the year.
Seoul City has been running the Face of Seoul program to recognize people who have contributed to the well-being of the city's citizens as well as its development, since 2016.
From May to July of this year, the city government received recommendations for 24 individual and seven group nominees. Including Kim, a total of three individuals and one group were selected.
The pictures and accomplishments of the awardees are displayed at City Hall Station and on the wall in Seoul Citizens Hall, located on the basement floor of Seoul City Hall.
The awards ceremony did not take place this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In her official acceptance speech, Kim said, "I am really happy to share what I have with others."
