Smilegate Hope Studio, Yonsei Medical Center support cleft lip and palate patients in Vietnam

Smilegate has organized a volunteer initiative to support children with cleft lip and palate in Vietnam.

Smilegate Hope Studio announced Monday that it carried out a volunteer activity in Vietnam in partnership with Yonsei University Health System to provide medical support to children with cleft lip and palate.

The initiative was designed to provide surgical and other medical assistance to children whose conditions have worsened due to missed treatment windows.

The activity took place from Thursday to Saturday at Da Nang Maternity Hospital in Vietnam. Hope Studio and Yonsei University Health System have run the program together since 2017, and approximately 2,000 patients and their guardians have benefited to date.

This year's activity was organized under the concept "GIVE for SMILE," a message of bringing joy to patients and their families. A total of 21 people participated on site, including Jeong Young-su, dean of Yonsei University College of Dentistry, and 12 other medical staff, creators from the volunteer community "Crayon," and Hope Studio staff.

Volunteers joined patients in hands-on activities such as decorating hats, shoes and T-shirts. Gifts including keyrings and stationery — items the children had wished for — were also distributed.

Alongside the volunteer activity, a donation campaign titled "Smiles for Cleft Lip and Palate Patients" is running on the Hope Studio platform through Nov. 10. All proceeds, with no operating costs deducted, will go toward purchasing specialized bottles designed for children with cleft lip and palate.

"We hope this effort — bringing together Yonsei University Health System, Crayon creators and their fans — has made a real difference for the children in Vietnam," said Kwon Yeon-ju, director of Hope Studio. "Hope Studio will continue to fulfill its role as a platform where the expertise of professionals, the talents of creators and the goodwill of fans can serve as a foundation for addressing social challenges."

Meanwhile, Hope Studio is working with a range of game companies and intellectual property partners to spread a culture of giving that brings hope to future generations. Beyond this volunteer activity, the organization also runs programs supporting AI education at community children's centers and assisting youth transitioning out of state care.