Yun Geun, 88, an inn owner in Busan, has donated her building worth 4 billion won ($2.73 million) to Chungnam National University in her hometown area of South Chungcheong Province.
The self-made businesswoman, who never had the privilege of even attending elementary school, expressed her wishes that her donation would allow financially-challenged students to pursue their dreams. She owns a six-story building in Yeongdo-gu, Busan, which was erected in 1995, where she has runs the Dongnam Inn.
"I earned my life's savings by overcoming hardships, never even stepping foot in an elementary school. I hope students with economic hardships can to focus on their studies, so they can become great leaders of the world," Yun said.
Yun said she was inspired by the late Lee Bok-sun, also known as the "gimbap lady," who donated 5 billion won in real estate and money to the university in 1990. Her nickname came from her work selling gimbap and running an inn. She passed away in 1991 at the age of 79.
The university said it is considering using Yun's building as educational facilities or a camp center for students.
Born into a farming family in Cheongyang-gun, South Chungcheong Province, Yun and her two sisters lost their mother when she was three, and then their father when she was 13. Her family's poverty prevented her from getting an education.
She married a miner when she was 17, and has worked as merchant since age 19. Her husband had two sons with another woman, despite the fact that it was Yun that provided the main source of income for the family.
Yun relocated to Busan in the 1970s in search of opportunities, earning enough money to buy a two-story house that she turned into an inn. She ran a successful business that led to the inn expanding over the following decades, eventually into the six-story building that it is currently located in.
CNU President Kim Jung-gyeom praised Yun, saying her life represents the history of the Korean people, spanning from the era of Japan's 1910-1945 colonization throughout the era of economic growth and to the current day. He vowed that the university will respect her wishes and do its best for the education of its students.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
