More precious than 'Director Hong Myung-bo', 'Chairman Hong Myung-bo', 'Footballer Hong Myung-bo's destiny that doesn't stop...23rd Hong Myung-bo Scholarship Foundation Awarded Scholarship

Dec 09, 2024

"The chairman position is something I must do in the future."

There is no shaking in the wind and waves. Soccer player Hong Myung-bo's silent step toward the future of Korean soccer continues.

The Hong Myung-bo Scholarship Foundation held the 23rd Hong Myung-bo Scholarship Award Ceremony at 11 a.m. on the 9th at the Grand Ballroom Hall on the 1st floor of the Double Tree By Hilton Hotel located in Bundang, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. Chairman Hong Myung-bo, OB Soccer Chairman Lee Hoi-taek, and Gangwon FC CEO Kim Byung-ji shone at the scholarship ceremony.

A total of 21 aspiring soccer players were selected according to the document screening and the selection criteria of the foundation's board of directors. The foundation will provide scholarships and soccer supplies to 10 elementary school, seven middle schools, and four high schools selected as scholarships until high school graduation.

It's already the 23rd time. The 'Hong Myung-bo Scholarship Foundation' established by 'player Hong Myung-bo" by contributing KRW 50 million from the transfer of the J-League Belmare in 1997, soared higher in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup through the semi-finals. It was established by contributing World Cup rewards, various donations and advertising fees, and some private funds. About 800 million won of scholarships have been paid so far, and a total of more than 4 billion won has been donated to aspiring soccer players and neighbors in need.

For Coach Hong, who wants to return the love he received from soccer to society, the scholarship foundation was 'Sookmyung'. The charity match, another pillar of Hong's charitable work, stopped, but there were no commas for the scholarship award. Hong said, `A few years ago, we always played charity football at this time. For one reason or another, he couldn't continue the charity game, but he couldn't stop the scholarship ceremony. The fact that it's already been 23 years is a great honor for me. I also think I should have a greater sense of chame.'

Including the selected scholarship students, more than 500 scholars have already benefited. Former and current national representatives such as Kim Jin-soo (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Kim Min-woo (Ulsan HD), Cho Young-wook (FC Seoul), Lee Chang-geun (Daejeon Hana Citizen), and Ji So-yeon (Seattle Lane) were also produced. Coach Hong had something more important than producing national team players. "It's important for these players to be professional, to be a member of the national team, but it's more important for me that these players are going to take care of people who are really in need in the same position later on," he said emphatically.

In recognition of his achievements so far, Hong was recently awarded the Member's Medal of Merit by the Korean Red Cross, and in 2017, he was awarded the National Medal, a South Korean medal awarded to the first activist to donate a large amount of his property to the public. Director Hong said that 'Director Hong Myung-bo' can be stopped, but 'Chairman Hong Myung-bo's move will not be stopped. He "I still remember selecting the first scholarship students and awarding scholarships in 2002, and I feel grateful and heavy responsibility at the same time that I have selected more than 500 scholarships. Looking back on the past time, there were a lot of hard times. The same is true this year. But I couldn't give up my scholarship project````. I may not be able to serve as a director at any time, but I think the chairman of the board of directors who give this scholarship must continue to do so, and I will make more efforts to continue."

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.