In publishing the book

Part 1.
People who planted trees of hope

01.
Hug Me in Mother's Name_The Late Author Park Wan-seo
02.
We are so glad you are here. - Bishop Kim Seong-su of the Anglican Church of Korea
03.
Daddy-Long-Legs' Love for Children_Lee Cheol-jae, former CEO of Quad Dimensions
04.
Life is Delicious_Lee Ji-seon, Professor at Ewha Womans University
05.
Comforting the Heart Like a Poem_Poet Jeong Ho-seung
06.
A person like a 'giving tree' - Attorney Kang Ji-won

Part 2.
We are all miracles

07.
A warm-hearted entrepreneur who wiped away the tears of a disabled child: the late Nexon CEO Kim Jung-ju.
08.
Running Towards a Miracle_Singer Sean and actress Jung Hye-young
09.
The Power to Navigate the World_Sister Lee Hae-in
10.
“It’s not mine, so I’ll just share it” – Grandfather Kwon Oh-rok
11.
Only through equality before the law can we create a just world. - Former Supreme Court Justice Cho Moo-je
12.
The Most Beautiful Word in the World: Mother_Park Jeom-sik, Chairman of Cheonji Tax Law Firm
13.
Attorney Kim Joo-young, a spokesperson for small businesses fighting against large corporations

Part 3.
Life is no different from farming

14.
Mother's Great Legacy_Mrs. Jang Chun-sun
15.
Taking the Road Less Traveled_Lee Jeong-mo, former director of the National Science Museum in Gwacheon
16.
The Japanese who loved Korea more than Koreans_Grandfather Motoyuki Nomura
17.
Sponsor Angel for Children with Disabilities_Anchor Lee Geum-hee
18.
The Old Farmer's Wish_Taejo Hwangbo
19.
A mountain is a mountain, and water is water_Monk Wontaek
20.
Painter Min Jeong-gi, the mountain painter who portrayed the majesty of nature

Created by the spirit of Ugong and the mountains
Beautiful miracle

While working as a reporter, Baek Gyeong-hak's life changed drastically when his wife, Hwang Hye-kyung, was involved in a car accident while on a road trip to England before returning to Korea after completing her studies at the University of Munich in Germany.
His wife, who had been in a coma for 100 days, miraculously wakes up, but loses one of her legs in the accident.
After the accident, I spent a year and a half in hospitals in England and Germany before returning home, but the reality of medical care in our country was extremely poor.
It was common to have to wait months for treatment, and the hospital facilities were bleak.
Having experienced the kindness of medical staff in England and the reasonable medical system that respects patients' privacy in Germany, the couple dreamed of establishing a hospital in Korea that treated patients like family.


In the end, the Purme Foundation was established in 2005 with approximately 1.1 billion won of his wife's traffic accident compensation and shares of Korea's first house beer company, 'Oktoberfest'.
Although everyone said it was absurd, the Purme Foundation has achieved most of its goals over the past 20 years.
Like the saying, "A foolish man who has no money can do anything," citizens responded to the couple's single-minded devotion, one by one, and the helping hand for the rehabilitation of children with disabilities and the independence of young people with disabilities continues steadily to this day.
We share unforgettable memories of those who readily reached out to create a better world, a warmer world, and honestly recount their lives, making us think again about what the "power to change the world" is.


“The rich never take the lead in helping the poor.
It's the way people who barely have enough to live or are a little short of money give.
Don't be discouraged if you get rejected once.
It takes ten phone calls to meet once, and it takes ten meetings to finally open your heart.
“I explained it well today, so that alone is a success,” the bishop comforted me.
It is a great blessing to have someone by your side who gives you good energy as you go through life.
Every time I meet Bishop Kim Seong-su, who has lived his entire life with patience and humility, I become infected by his influence, and my face turns a little red and I bow my head.
I'm so glad you're here.
Pages 37-38

Believing in the value of togetherness
Meet the adults of our time

It's a difficult time to find a true adult.
They say that true adults have disappeared and only old farts remain.
However, there were adults who quietly became the pillars of our society, such as Mr. Kim Jang-ha, who ran a herbal medicine shop in Jinju and provided scholarships to numerous students, including former director Moon Hyung-bae, and Mr. Chae Hyeon-guk, who provided shelter and funds for democratic figures during the military dictatorship.
As the stories of those who demonstrated the value of life through actions rather than words became known, many were moved and pledged to make them their role models.
The 20 people introduced by CEO Baek Kyung-hak are like 'lighthouses of our time' who have illuminated the world with their own light, each from their own position.


In the life of Bishop Kim Seong-su of the Anglican Church of Korea, who dedicated his life to helping people with developmental disabilities by establishing St. Peter's School, a special school for the developmentally disabled, and Our Village, a workshop for the developmentally disabled, we see the power of 'humility'; in the life of lawyer Kang Ji-won, who reached out to those in need without asking for anything in return, we see the power of 'sincerity'; and in the life of the late grandfather Kwon Oh-rok, who donated over 2 billion won to social organizations but waved it off, saying, "I'm only donating because it's not mine," we see the virtue of 'humility'.
Former Supreme Court Justice Cho Mu-je, who strived to create a world of fairness and equality before the law; Monk Won-taek, who served Monk Seongcheol for 54 years and spread his teachings to the public; and Mrs. Jang Chun-sun, who has been struggling as a parent of a son with a developmental disability, each of these people has walked different paths, but their lives are imbued with the strength of those who have lived uprightly.
Just as bamboo doesn't break easily even in strong winds, if you listen to the life wisdom of those who have overcome setbacks and risen again, you will truly feel the 'good influence' that spreads throughout the world.
Through stories of people who put others first before their own interests, we are reminded of the meaning of the saying, "If you go alone, you go fast, but if you go together, you go far."


Whenever Grandfather Kwon Oh-rok comes to the foundation, he always buys the staff a meal.
Even if you strongly refuse, he says, “If you are doing a good job, the only thing I can do for you is to treat you to a warm meal.
“This is a great joy to me,” he said.
When spring comes, they always buy me a delicious lunch, saying things like the flowers are blooming, I recovered from my cold, or how much work I've put in to build the farm.
What my grandfather gave his employees was not just a meal, but a sense of mission and pride in working at the Purme Foundation.
“My father never told his children to ‘give to others.’
He simply demonstrated through his actions a life of helping his neighbors.
But I can't forget that sight.
My donations are also an effort to follow in my father's footsteps.
“I believe that when I meet my father in the afterlife next time, he will praise me and say, ‘Our Orok has lived a very good life.’” The smile of Grandfather Kwon Orok, who will be celebrating his 2023 birthday, is bright.
Like Mr. Kim Jang-ha, who had a great impact on our society, Grandfather Kwon Oh-rok was also a great man.
Pages 155-156

A loose association of good people,
Move the world

The construction of a rehabilitation hospital was such a costly challenge that even an official from one of the country's leading university hospitals asked, "We can't even afford to run a deficit, so how can a private foundation build and operate a hospital?"
However, in 2007, two years after the foundation was established, the first private dental clinic for the disabled in Korea, Purme Dental Clinic, was opened, in 2012, Purme Rehabilitation Center, and 11 years later, in 2016, Purme Foundation Nexon Children's Rehabilitation Hospital was opened, achieving the goal.
It was the solidarity of good people that created that miraculous moment.
Just as countless trees come together to form a green mountain, the Purme Foundation has grown through the hands of many people, from fern hands to large corporate donations.
As of 2024, the number of registered disabled people is approximately 2.63 million, accounting for 5.1 percent of the total population.
More than 80 percent of them are moderately disabled people who lived as non-disabled people.
Even though the unexpected can happen to anyone at any time, we believe that our peaceful daily lives will last forever.
After his wife's car accident, CEO Baek Gyeong-hak's life also took an unexpected turn.
But he was able to continue his journey towards his dream without giving up because he had countless running mates running alongside him.


Looking back on the unforgettable moments of encounter that have passed through the years, CEO Baek Kyung-hak calmly expresses his gratitude and respect to those who supported him.
After the Purme Foundation established a children's rehabilitation hospital, which had not been operating at all because the medical insurance premiums were extremely low and the hospital was losing money treating patients, a movement also took place at the national level, and public children's rehabilitation hospitals were established in various regions.
Purme Social Farm and Mui Forest are also presenting a new paradigm for employment for the disabled in our society.
Just as dandelion seeds fly everywhere, the ‘Sharing Seeds’ spread by the Purme Foundation will spread throughout our society and bring about the sprouting of hope.


Many athletes have completed the New York City Marathon, but none have had such a moving finish.
The incredible (!) record of 7 hours and 22 minutes will also be unique.
After taking a long breath, Ji-seon explained why she was late.
As she started to run, her heart started to pound as she couldn't breathe.
From then on, I gave up running and started walking quickly.
As the pain in my heart subsided, I had to limp along because of the pain in my soles of my feet.
Then, when the pain spread up to his lower back, he said he sat down in agony and cried.
At that time, I noticed a Korean resident holding a picket sign with his name on it and cheering loudly.
She was a young woman of about my age.
Ji-seon's legs regained strength when she realized that someone she had never met before was cheering her on, standing alone in the place where everyone else had left.
'I can't just give up and give in, even for the sake of that person who never gives up and cheers me on.'

At first, I planned to just run 10 kilometers and then take the subway.
But after 10 kilometers, it wasn't so hard that I wanted to quit, so I thought about going up to 15 kilometers. After walking one block and running one block, I didn't know where to stop.
So I was finally able to finish the race.
She didn't set a goal of completing 42.195 kilometers from the beginning, but rather just went as far as she could, which led her to the finish line and a finisher's medal.
“It was so hard I thought I would die, but I didn’t give up and kept running, step by step, and finally I could see the finish line.
I think life is probably the same.” _Pages 65-66

Making the impossible a reality,
Walk the road no one has ever walked

Part 1, “People Who Planted Trees of Hope,” introduces those who laid the cornerstones of the Purme Foundation.
We will reflect on the spirit of Woo Bo-cheon through the stories of the late author Park Wan-seo, who became acquainted with us through an email saying, “My nickname is Park Wan-seo’s younger sister,” Lee Cheol-jae, former CEO of Quad Dimensions, who overcame his disability to become self-made and donate a large sum of money despite being paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident at the age of 18, Professor Lee Ji-seon, the first public relations ambassador who promoted the Purme Foundation in both material and spiritual ways, Bishop Kim Seong-su and lawyer Kang Ji-won who presented the foundation’s philosophy that “disabled people should also live ordinary lives,” and poet Jeong Ho-seung who put his love for disabled children into practice through his literary works.

Part 2, “We Are All Miracles,” tells the story of how 40 billion won was raised to build a children’s rehabilitation hospital.
We share moving moments born of desperation through the stories of those who made difficult decisions to build a children's rehabilitation hospital, such as the late Nexon CEO Kim Jung-joo, who donated 20 billion won, which was close to half of the construction cost; public relations ambassador Sean, who proposed the 'Miracle of 10,000 Won' campaign and worked tirelessly to collect donations; Sister Lee Hae-in, who donated royalties and other funds to the 'Dandelion Fund'; and Chairman Park Jeom-sik of Cheonji Tax Law Firm, who designated the Purme Foundation as the beneficiary of his death insurance as well as his mother's condolence money.


The final part, Part 3, "Life is no different from Farming," covers the process of establishing a smart farm that will provide a foundation for young people with developmental disabilities to live in the world.
Starting with the story of Lee Sang-hoon and Jang Chun-soon, who donated 4,000 pyeong of farm land that was well-loved by their family, the program tells the story of announcer Lee Geum-hee, a donation angel who added a new donation site every year, the late Motoyuki Nomura, who carried out relief activities for the poor in Cheonggyecheon, and the late Oh-rok Kwon, who provided funds so that young people with developmental disabilities working on farms could enjoy hobbies, and portrays the present and future of young people with disabilities.


Young people who couldn't even make eye contact at first now meet on their way to work, exchange greetings, and joke around.
When asked if they give their mothers pocket money, some friends boast that they give 300,000 won, while others boast that they give 100,000 won.
The young man who had been quietly listening to the conversation shouted, “I will give it to you too!”
Going to the farm together every day, working together, developing social skills, and receiving a salary from work really boosts my self-esteem.
(Omitted) “Sometimes, Deok-hee leaves work carrying cherry tomatoes distributed to the employees at the farm.
He put the tomatoes down on the table and said, 'I'm the only one who makes money in this house!'
“It is my happiness to live every day looking at this sight.” Listening to Mrs. Jang Chun-sun’s story, I realized how great my mother’s legacy was.
Mrs. Jang dreams of the day when Deok-hee can live independently.
When people with disabilities are happy, everyone is happy.
Pages 220-221