Feature: South Korean sisters send year´s pocket money to Chinese quake-hit children

Source: Xinhua | 05-17-2008 10:08

BUSAN, South Korea, May 16 (Xinhua) -- "Please deliver the money to the children in Sichuan's earthquake-hit areas and express our blessings," Hwang Yoon-kyung, 12, and her younger sister Hwang Hye-kyung, 11, said in a message to the Chinese Consulate General in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan.

Yoon-kyung and Hye-kyung, who learnt that a strong earthquake in China's southwestern province of Sichuan left thousands of children dead or injured, decided to write a letter in Chinese to the quake-hit children in Sichuan.

In an envelope delivered to the Chinese Consulate General, the sisters put 100,000 Korean won (about 100 U.S. dollars) and two letters written by themselves.

"I saw the damage by the massive earthquakes in Sichuan on the TV news. So many people died and so many houses collapsed. I am so worried about you. Cheer up, my young friends in China," Hye-kyung said in her letter.

In a letter to the students of the Xinjian Primary School of Dujiangyan city, where as many as 500 students were in class when the catastrophe took place, Yoon-kyung said, "I feel so heart-broken about the terrible disaster that has caused many deaths and injuries. I believe you can go through the tragedies. Cheer up."

Yoon-Kyung and Hye-Kyung lived in China's Shanghai city for two years and made many Chinese friends there, their father said.

"After coming back from China, the two girls have become concerned about things happening in China and they were very sad to learn that many children were killed or injured in the grave earthquakes," the father said.

"They decided to donate 100,000 won of their pocket money, which is almost all they have now, to the children in the earthquake-hit area to offer some help," he said, adding that he usually gives only 1,500 won (about 1.5 U.S. dollars) to the sisters each week as their pocket money.

"That's not a small amount for them. They spent more than one year to save the money," he said.

"My daughters just did what they can do. Please bring their regards and blessings to the children in the quake-hit areas. Although Busan and Sichuan are far from each other, our hearts are together," the father said.

Many South Korean citizens have called the Consulate General to express condolences to the victims of the earthquakes Monday, offering donations to China.

Editor:Liu Fang