Child welfare organization ChildFund Korea announced today (May 5) that actor Song Il-gook received a Presidential Citation for his contributions to improving child welfare during the 104th Children’s Day ceremony.
This award is presented by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to recognize and encourage those who have helped create a supportive social environment where children can grow up healthy, even under difficult circumstances.
Song Il-gook was honored for his spirit of sharing and volunteering for children both in Korea and abroad, a journey that began in 2012 when he participated in the “Hope Road Grand March,” a collaboration between ChildFund Korea and KBS.
Since first partnering with ChildFund Korea in 2012, he visited Burkina Faso to highlight critical issues such as the lack of school facilities, difficulty accessing clean drinking water, and insufficient basic health infrastructure, helping to bring public attention to the urgent need for child support.
In 2015, he demonstrated the positive power of “family sharing” by donating approximately 100 million won in profits from calendars and emoticons featuring his three sons, Daehan, Minguk, and Manse, to support Nepal earthquake relief and children with incurable diseases in Korea.
Since 2019, he has served as an ambassador for ChildFund Korea, working to promote children’s rights and improve related systems. He also helped raise awareness against corporal punishment through the “Change 915” campaign.
His efforts continued into 2024 with the “Warm Dumpling” campaign, providing food and daily necessities to children facing food insecurity. In 2025, he appeared on “SBS Hope TV” to call for support for young carers.
Hwang Young-ki, Chairman of ChildFund Korea, stated, “We are deeply grateful to Ambassador Song Il-gook for his consistent dedication to sharing and for creating hope and change across various sectors of our society, including child welfare.”
