A 100-year-old senior from Daegu has become a member of the Honor Society, an exclusive group of donors who have committed to contributing over 100 million Korean won to Love’s Fruit. This achievement marks the senior as the oldest member in the society across 17 cities and provinces nationwide.
The Daegu Community Chest announced on the 11th that Mr. A, a resident of Suseong District, has joined the Honor Society as its 270th member in Daegu. Born in 1926, Mr. A is 99 years old by international standards and 100 years old by Korean age this year. The Daegu Community Chest representative shared that the senior chose not to reveal his face or name.
Mr. A had a long career as a public official, serving for 44 years before transitioning to the private sector for another decade after retirement. His decision to join the Honor Society came after reading about the organization and its members’ stories of generosity through a newspaper. He expressed his motivation: “Thanks to various benefits received from neighbors, the state, and society, my family has been able to live a stable and happy life. I wanted to repay that grace to society and spread the warmth of sharing like other members.”
The Honor Society consists of individuals who have pledged to donate over 100 million Korean won within five years. In Mr. A’s case, he fulfilled the full amount immediately upon joining the society.
In 2023, the Daegu Community Chest honored Seo Sang-don (1850–1913), a leader of the National Debt Redemption Movement, as the 221st Honor Society member in Daegu. With Mr. A’s recent membership, Daegu now holds both the title of the oldest living Honor Society member (Mr. A) and the member with the earliest birth year (Seo Sang-don).
Shin Hong-sik, head of the Daegu Community Chest, commented, “The emergence of the oldest Honor Society member in Daegu is a heartwarming story befitting a city that has inherited the spirit of the National Debt Redemption Movement. I express my gratitude to the senior for continuing a century of life dedicated to national development through sharing.”