Holy Seas Church, HSS and Seoul Veterans Affairs Office donate W20m in scholarships to vulnerable veterans' families

The Seoul Regional Veterans Affairs Office, Holy Seas Church and its church school HSS announced Wednesday that they had delivered scholarships and donated goods to children of low-income veterans and elderly veterans' families in need.

The support was funded by proceeds from the Angel Day Chance Bazaar, held by Holy Seas Church and HSS on Oct. 17. The bazaar far exceeded its initial target of 100 million won ($74,600), recording sales of about 230 million won.

Drawing on those proceeds, Holy Seas Church presented 20 million won in scholarships to children of low-income veterans in the area, and delivered 100 care packages — each filled with cosmetics, health supplements and other goods — worth a combined 50 million won to elderly and low-income veterans' families.

The church said it organized the initiative to express gratitude to veterans' families and to put the spirit of sharing into practice. Holy Seas Church has long worked to foster a culture of honoring veterans, staging musicals commemorating the Korean War and the March 1st Independence Movement, as well as patriotic concerts.

The scholarship presentation ceremony, held Monday at the Seoul Regional Veterans Affairs Office, was attended by Seoul Regional Veterans Affairs Office head Lee Seung-woo and Holy Seas Church Senior Pastor Seo Dae-cheon.

"We are grateful for this support for vulnerable veterans' families," Lee said. "We will continue working to build a society where those who have served the nation are respected."

"We are always thankful for the noble sacrifices and dedication of our veterans," Seo said. "We will keep striving to spread a culture of honoring veterans through sharing activities with their families."