Q&A with Director of Shincheonji Youth Volunteer Group 'We Are One'

 

Jun-su Hong, Director of We Are One

In 2022, when the COVID-19 omicron mutation was prevalent in South Korea and blood donations were scarce, blood reserves fell to a 3-day supply and a domestic blood crisis was announced.

At that time, the 'We Are One' Shincheonji Youth Volunteer Group (Director Jun-su Hong) stepped in and resolved to alleviate the severe blood shortage that resulted from the prolonged coronavirus pandemic and mobilised over 100,000 of its members for a group blood drive. A total of 73,807 members successfully donated blood, setting a new Guinness World Record.

What follows is a Q&A with We Are One Director Hong.

Q: How did you personally feel about 70,000 people donating blood? 

“I also participated in a blood donation at the blood centre twice, once in September and once in November last year. I felt a great sense of pride in knowing that my blood could save a life in just five minutes or so.”

Q: As there were 70,000 participants in the blood donation service, did you encounter many unique cases?

“Among the members, there was a young man in his early 30s who had donated blood 120 times up until then. At first, he started to donate because one could get a souvenir in return for donating blood, but while he was in secondary school, he had a friend suffering from haemophilia, and he and his classmates collectively donated blood and came to the realisation that 'a small deed can go a very long way'. He said that giving blood has now become second nature, and he has donated 120 times.”

Q: It must have been difficult for 70,000 people to donate blood in a short period of time, not so?

“While carrying out the '70,000 blood donation campaign', symbolic of the 70,000 members from South Korea, we challenged the world record and spread the importance of donating blood globally so that everyone could participate. With the help of the Korean Red Cross, our application was submitted via the Red Cross' blood donation app 'Red Connect' so as not to disrupt existing blood donation reservations due to the Guinness Challenge. For three months from August 27th last year, 73,807 people successfully gave blood.”

The activities of 'We Are Run', a group within We Are One

Q: Is there a blood donation campaign this year?

“We launched the ‘We Are Red’ blood donation campaign this month (July 2023) in line with the holiday season in July and August, when blood supply and demand deteriorate. We Are One designated the 21st July, when the campaign started, as 'College Student Blood Donor Day' and encouraged the participation of university students who were on holiday. In cooperation with the Korean Red Cross, five bloodmobiles were operated in an empty parking lot near Gwacheon Government Complex Station on Seoul Subway Line 4. Members from the province participated, and a total of 2297 people donated blood on the first day alone.”

Q: Aside from blood donation and running, what other volunteer activities are you planning?

“I think that respecting diversity and breaking down boundaries to create a cultural space where everyone can engage in mutual dialogue and find enjoyment without discrimination is the kind of service that We Are One should pursue in the future. In light of the recent increasing threat of climate change, we are actively participating in environmental improvement activities. We are also conducting flood recovery services and plogging.”

We Are One members participate in 'plogging' in Gwangju City

Q: Why should I volunteer?

“Volunteering can be seen by some as a sacrifice for others, but in essence it is the first step to realising the important values in my life. If you share your worries, you will realise that 'I am not alone' and gain assurance and hope in life. The core of We Are One is found through the 'We', not just 'me'. I hope that if we start with what we have and together put it into practice and achieve it, the world will eventually change to one where everyone can be happy.

Just like the name 'We are one', we wish for all young people around the world to adopt healthy values, unite with us and lead the future of our global village wonderfully and beautifully. Furthermore, as the largest youth volunteer group in South Korea, we will strive and devote ourselves to more diverse volunteer activities.”

We Are One members volunteer to donate blood

Source: https://cutt.ly/WwsaHqqV