Busan Tourism Organization donates running shoes to Nam-gu orphanage

The Busan Tourism Organization announced Monday that it delivered 35 pairs of custom running shoes for children and teenagers to Saevit Christian Children's Home, a child-care facility in Nam-gu, Busan, on Friday, in connection with the public-private running event "Yongho Morning Bay Run."

The handover ceremony brought together Busan Tourism Organization President Lee Jeong-sil, Nam-gu District Mayor Park Jae-beom, On Your Mark Busan branch manager Ha Man-su and staff from Saevit Christian Children's Home to support the children's healthy development. The donation followed the Yongho Morning Bay Run as a community service initiative. The run was held Oct. 18 around the Yongho Bay Ferry Terminal and Gwangalli Beach.

The Yongho Morning Bay Run was organized in partnership with On Your Mark Busan, a private professional running brand operated by Youngsan International Co., to promote morning activity at the terminal and raise awareness of marine tourism. All 30 participants — including running influencers and members of the public — completed the course.

To channel participants' finishing steps into community giving, the Busan Tourism Organization and On Your Mark jointly procured 35 pairs of professional running shoes valued at 2.4 million won ($1,790), with the organization covering half the cost and On Your Mark contributing the other half in kind. The organizations also measured each child's foot size in advance to ensure a proper fit.