Yang Mi-ae receives National Order for 49 years of service

Yang Mi-ae was awarded the National Order of Camellia at the 2026 Korea Sharing National Awards in Seoul on November 5. The volunteer, who has completed 6,553 hours of service over 20 years, was honored among 132 total award recipients for her long-term contributions to supporting people with disabilities.

KBS held the '2026 Korea Sharing National Awards' ceremony on the 5th at the KBS New Building Public Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to discover and honor individuals and organizations that practice sharing in various fields of society and contribute to spreading a culture of sharing. This year, a total of 132 awards were presented, including 1 National Order, 4 Presidential Medals, 7 Presidential Citations, 9 Prime Minister Citations, 90 Minister of Health and Welfare Citations, and 21 Citations from heads of private organizations. Celebratory performances were held by singers Kim Jong-seo, Epitone Project, SeeYa, HYNN, Park Ji-hyun, P1Harmony, and Lee Su-yeon. The ceremony is scheduled to be broadcast as a special program on KBS 1TV for 110 minutes starting at 3:10 p.m. on November 28.

National Order awarded to Yang Mi-ae for 49 years of service

The National Order of Camellia was awarded to Yang Mi-ae, a volunteer at the Jinhae Welfare Center for Persons with Disabilities. Yang was recognized for her contributions to serving neighbors in need, including people with disabilities, for 49 years. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Yang has engaged in various volunteer activities such as assisting with work training for those with severe disabilities, food distribution, disability awareness campaigns, and making welfare check-in calls to people with disabilities living alone. Her service record in the field of disability spans 1,862 instances and 6,553 hours over 20 years. It was also reported that she continued her volunteer work making welfare check-in calls to people with disabilities despite facing mobility difficulties following surgery in 2023.

Other recipients of the 2026 Korea Sharing National Awards included individuals and organizations active in diverse fields such as long-term service and donations, support for daily necessities, mentoring, and disaster relief. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, KBS, and the Community Chest of Korea, this award has been held since 2012 and marks its 15th year in spreading the culture of sharing.

Individual winners continued scholarship and donation activities

Four Presidential Medals were awarded. Park Jong-ok, CEO of Seowon Compressor Co., Ltd., was recognized for her 30 years of scholarship projects and donation activities. It is reported that Park has provided scholarships for 30 years and established a foundation through donations of 7 billion won of her personal assets. Lim Gi-su, Chairman of Hankook Tire Chuncheon Sales Co., Ltd., has practiced nurturing local talent and sharing for 35 years, leading efforts to spread the culture of sharing and talent development through scholarship foundations and volunteer corps.

Kim Seung-gi, CEO of Saengneung Publishing Co., Ltd., received an award for leading knowledge sharing through book donations and scholarship projects. It was explained that he has returned the profits of his publishing company to society for 32 years. Kim Seong-jin, head of the Jeonnam branch of the Korean Pharmaceutical Association, was recognized for his efforts in providing medical supplies at disaster sites and operating volunteer pharmacies. He has practiced sharing for 20 years. The four Presidential Medal winners all continued their sharing through different methods, including scholarships, medical support, field volunteering, and book donations.

Organizations such as Shinhan Financial Group and SM Entertainment receive citations

Presidential Citations were awarded to one individual and six organizations. Kim Jeom-gon, CEO of Sindo Mulsan, received the award for his contribution to scholarship projects and spreading a culture of family donations. The Korean Hansen's Disease Volunteer Association was recognized for its volunteer activities for people with Hansen's disease for over 20 years. Shinhan Financial Group received a Presidential Citation for its support of vulnerable groups and various social contribution projects. Shinhan Financial Group is reported to have donated more than 2 trillion won to 'Just Give,' a food support project for the vulnerable.

SM Entertainment received a Presidential Citation for leading sharing activities through culture and arts. HUG was recognized for contributing to the improvement of housing welfare for vulnerable groups. The Ara Angels Team of the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital nursing division has continued service and support for the underprivileged for 29 years, and Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. was noted for practicing social contribution activities such as scholarship projects and medical supply support. The organizations receiving Presidential Citations operated in different fields, including welfare, medicine, housing, culture and arts, and donation culture.

Prime Minister Citations awarded to 9 teams ranging from digital donations to local welfare

Prime Minister Citations were awarded to three individuals and six organizations. Kakao was named for its contribution to spreading the donation culture through digital platforms. The Areumdeuri Volunteer Corps has practiced supporting daily necessities and sharing coal briquettes for the vulnerable for 23 years. Choi Yeong-su, CEO of Samdu General Engineering Co., Ltd., has worked toward local community welfare and talent cultivation, while the KRX National Happiness Foundation has carried out welfare projects for children, youth, and the vulnerable.

The SL Lee Chung-gon Foundation received an award for its contribution to scholarship projects and support for low-income groups, and Han Jeong-a, Managing Director of IBM Korea, was recognized for her efforts in nurturing female talent through university student mentoring for 16 years. BNK Kyongnam Bank conducted customized social contribution activities for the region, and Moon Yu-jin, CEO of Ijin Heating System, has supported welfare facilities and the underprivileged both domestically and abroad for 27 years. Korea East-West Power received a citation for supporting energy-vulnerable groups and practicing talent donations by its employees. The Prime Minister Citation recipients have expanded their scope of activity from donation platforms and daily necessity support to mentoring, housing, welfare, and energy support.

The '2026 Korea Sharing National Awards' is an event co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, KBS, and the Community Chest of Korea, with support from the Korea National Council on Social Welfare, Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association, and the National Sharing Movement Headquarters. This year's awardees were selected through public applications and recommendations from sharing organizations. The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to re-introduce these awardees during the KBS 1TV special broadcast on November 28.

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