How We Started

Sharing Love in Korea launched on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2016.

The idea started when four friends from Los Angeles - Yonah, Ann, Caroline, and Nicole - visited Sinaewon Children's Home in November 2014 and felt compelled to help the children who had either been abandoned by or taken away from their families due to extreme circumstances. Some of the children had even been physically and/or sexually abused. We were expecting to see withdrawn and depressed children. Instead, what we saw and felt was love... pure, bright love from the children.

During the visit, we learned that Sinaewon only received meager financial support from the Korean government, and the funds had to be put towards the maintenance and operation of the old buildings at Sinaewon. The children also received meager funding from the government. But the amount was very little (10 cents per meal per child in 2016) and only helped towards current expenses. When the children were forced to leave Sinaewon at the age of 18 years, they would leave with very little funds.

This is where the monthly financial contributions from sponsors make a huge impact. During a child's stay at an orphanage/group home, the monthly contributions are saved in a bank account in the child's name. When that child is ready to leave the orphanage/group home at 18 years of age, they are given access to their bank account. Through the faithful support of the sponsors, the child can start their next chapter with some support and hope.

Mission Statement

Sharing Love in Korea (SL!K) is dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable children, laying the groundwork for them to grow into caring and productive adults. Our approach centers on sponsorship and mentorship. Through sponsorship, we provide financial support to enhance educational opportunities, aiding in the successful development of adolescents. Mentorship plays a critical role, too, boosting a child's potential to emerge as a community leader or mentor in the future. We firmly believe in the power of personal relationships between sponsors and children. Such connections can transform all facets of a child's life, paving the way for a brighter future. This benefits the children and contributes to creating safer and more secure environments for their future.

Sinaewon

Our first collaboration was with the Sinaewon Children's Home in South Korea. Sinaewon is an institutionalized "foster care" system and is a trustworthy children's home in South Korea. It was established in 1953 during the Korean War. The founder of Sinaewon, Mr. Deuksoon Han, was born in Pyongyang, North Korea. As a born-again Christian, he opened a shelter to accommodate war orphans. Sixty years later, his orphanage operates through his granddaughter, Dr. Miyong Kim.

Sinaewon cares for children whose parents have abandoned them without signing over their parental rights so that the child cannot be adopted. It also receives children who have been removed from their homes by the government for their safety. Some of these children have been victims of physical abuse and sexual abuse. Some of their parents are serving time in prison. Other children have been removed due to severe neglect. The children live in these institutions until they age out of these facilities at the age of eighteen. The Korean government officially certified the shelter as an orphanage two years later. The orphanage received a certificate of appreciation from the Korean government for good care and child services.

Children's Homes We Help

Emmanuel

Located in Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsang Province, Emmanuel was established in 1951 with a primary focus on orphaned children due to the Korean War. It has emerged as a pivotal entity in social welfare, demonstrating influence within our regional boundaries and on a national scale. Throughout the years, more than 1,400 individuals nurtured within the Emmanuel framework have seamlessly assimilated into diverse societal sectors. Approximately 120 children, spanning from infants to university students, are under our care. Fueled by passion, our dedicated educators guide them in cultivating exceptional personalities rooted in the Christian ethos of 'faith, hope, and love.'

Distinguished as the sole domestic adoption agency in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Emmanuel specializes in facilitating the placement of infants and children into nurturing homes and families. Furthermore, in collaboration with the Gimcheon Child Welfare Center, they administer study programs and emotional support initiatives for economically disadvantaged children, delivering a spectrum of social services to the local community.

Chun Yang Won

Located in Daejeon City, Chungcheong Province, Chun Yang Won was established in 1952 by Reverend Yu Eulhee and initially catered to war orphans, predating the onset of the Korean War. Evolving from its initial focus, the organization has shifted to protecting and caring for children from disrupted families. Chun Yang Won is dedicated to supporting their education, guiding them through university, and fostering their development into contributing members of society.

The name "Chun Yang Won" symbolizes "to fly joyfully like a bird." The organization's mission is to act as companions, instilling bright hope in neighbors burdened with heavy hearts, loneliness, and despair. With a spacious, park-like environment and high-quality living facilities, Chun Yang Won welcomes children needing protection. The organization profoundly appreciates comprehensive assistance from sponsors to enhance these children's living standards.

In pursuing its mission, Chun Yang Won aims to nurture children into healthy democratic citizens, assisting them in realizing diverse dreams. The facility is committed to creating a loving family community that upholds children's and staff's rights, offering high-quality services and facilities centered on the exchange of love. In the spirit of community openness, Chun Yang Won provides additional facilities, such as a free-of-charge futsal field and parking lot, fostering mutual growth and collaboration with the local community.

Board of Directors

Caroline Sim

President

Caroline is a follower of Jesus Christ and longs to love God the most. She enjoys studying the Bible, being a part of Emmaus Community Church, and evangelism. Caroline has a real estate and government background and is a student of the Los Angeles Bible Training School. She graduated from UC Riverside with a BA in Business Economics and New York University with an MA in Environmental Conservation. Caroline enjoys playing tennis, dancing, snowboarding, horseback riding, hiking, and using power tools.

Yonah Hong

Co-Founder/ Secretary

Yonah Hong truly loves children of all ages because she's also a kid at heart. She is a 1.5-generation Korean American who immigrated to the U.S. with her family when she was eight. She was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, and moved to Los Angeles, California, after college. With vast work experience in private, public, and nonprofit sectors, she strives to use her knowledge, experience, and skills to serve and work humbly in the community and to live by the motto "to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:29-31)." She graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health and a minor in Psychology. She later pursued her MBA from the American Jewish University with a concentration in Nonprofit Management.

Nicole Chang

Co-Founder/ Treasurer

Nicole is dedicated to positively impacting communities in Korea. She has been a senior staff writer for Korea Daily since 1999. Throughout her tenure, Chang has actively addressed and shed light on issues pertinent to the Korean community in the United States. With a multifaceted background in editorial leadership, content creation, and community service, she has played a vital role in shaping the narrative of Korea Daily. Chang holds a master's in business administration from the American Jewish University and a bachelor's degree in journalism from California State University, Northridge.

Ann Lee

Co-Founder/ Former President

Ann earned a B.A. from The College of Wooster. She then went on to earn a J.D. from Northeastern School of Law. After graduating from law school, she clerked for a federal judge. Currently, Ann is a Deputy District Attorney for LA County.