A commemorative photo from the dedication ceremony of Chongnam Park to honor late founder Moon Tae-shik of AJU Group who donated the land to build the citizens park in Jungnang Ward in Seoul. Chairman Moon Kyu-young, a son of the late founder, and Mayor Ryu Kyung-ki of Jungnang Ward, right, are seen in the photo. (Photo: AJU Group)

Late Founder and Honorary Chairman Moon Tae-shik of AJU Group donated 55,175 square meters of land for public use before his death, which has been turned into a spacious park.
It was his last wish that he make a positive contribution to the country and society.

Chongnam Park, located in Jungnang-Ward, Seoul, was officially dedicated on Nov. 15, about 11 months since work on the land started. Before he died, the late founder donated 263,797 square meters of land to Jungnang Ward in 2013. It had a market value of some 40 billion won.

The land, located in Sinnae-dong, is considered the birthplace of the business group. The group donated additional land in 2015 measuring some 9,400 square meters. It was located close to the land donated before after the late founder’s death in 2013, along with 1 billion won for the cost of building a park on the donated land.

The ward office got 900 million won from the government and 300 million won from Seoul City Hall, along with the 100 million won chipped in by the ward to complete the public park and name it Chongnam, the pen name of the late founder.

Chairman Moon Kyu-young, a son of the late founder, in his speech at the dedication ceremony of the new public park, recalled the late founder and his late father always believed that running his business successfully is to pay your debts to your fatherland during his entire business career. He lived very frugal and strict life moving his house only once in his entire life.

Mayor Ryu Kyung-ki of the Jungnang Ward, said in his speech that “It’s one thing for many leaders of society call for dedication to the country, but it’s quite another to practice them in real life. Giving such a vast land without a hint of remorse was like a light and salt to society.” he said.

The ward has decided to encourage the youths in the neighborhood to enjoy nature, rest, and have a healing space for the residents in the area while the land adjacent to the park will be for tracking courses for those who want to train their athletic abilities.

Aju Group also donated 7 billion won they got from the government when the land it owned was included the Pocheon-Guri Expressway and the ward set up a scholarship foundation named after the late founder of the group with the fund to annually give 450 million won in scholarship to 300 high school students in the ward.

The government presented a special medal, the Dongbaek Medal to the late founder Moon Tae-shik in 2016 in recognition of his social contribution. He also was honored as one of the 48 heroes of donating their fortunes to society in 2013 by the Forbes magazine.

AJU Group opened the Very Good (AJU) Good Dream Site at an old home of the parents of its chairman, Moon Gyu-young, in Yongdu-dong, Dongdaemun District, Seoul.

A card was given with a message of hope, which read, “Many experiences today become seeds for happiness.” Very Good (AJU) Good Dream Site sits at the same location where chairman Moon’s father Tae-shik, founder of AJU Group, was born. It’s now an educational cultural center for youths in the area.

Attending the opening ceremony including a number of dignitaries such as Chairman Moon, Chief Yoo Deok-pyeul of the Dongdaemon District, Chief Kim Jeong-sok of the Seoul Dongbu Educational Assistance Office, Chairman Seo Jeong-ho of Ambassador Hotel and Chairman Lee Kang-ho of PMG, among others, totaling some 30 people.

Chairman Moon Gyu-young said his late father founded AJU Group in 1960 with the hope of benefiting the nation with better business prospects and to work for the growth of the group with a philosophy that the best opportunities come to those who persevere through many difficulties in life. He hoped youths coming to the center would find it to be a place that helps them grow their dreams and live healthy lifestyles.

AJU Group, an industrial conglomerate, is engaged in construction materials and construction engineering, financial services, auto, real estate and natural resources development, hotel, and information technology (IT) businesses.

아주그룹의 기부로 시작된 중랑구 구릉산, 지역민의 쉼터로 11개월만에 준공

11월 15일 신내동 구릉산에서 ‘구릉산 청남공원’ 준공식

아주그룹은 중랑구와 함께 11월 15일 신내동 구릉산에서 ‘구릉산 청남공원’ 준공식을 열었다.

 
아주그룹의 기부로 시작된 구릉산 청남공원은 아주그룹 창업주 고(故) 문태식 명예회장의 아호인 ‘청남(靑南)’을 따 명명했으며, 지난 2017년 12월 창업주 별세 3주기에 맞춰 착공에 들어가 11개월만에 준공되었다.

아주그룹 관계자는 “지방자치단체가 추진하는 공원 조성 사업의 명칭에 기업인의 호(號)가 들어가는 것은 대단히 이례적”이라면서 “그 의미와 상징성이 매우 크다”고 말했다.

 
아주그룹은 지난 2013년 5월 창업주의 유지를 따라 서울 신내동 소재의 26만3,797㎡(약8만평), 시가 400억여원 상당의 임야를 중랑구청에 기부했다. 처음 사업을 시작한 곳이 중랑구였기에 이 지역의 발전을 위해 나눔을 실천한 것.

 
이어 2015년에는 기존의 기부 부지에 인접한 9,402㎡(약 2,840평), 시가 30억원 상당의 땅을 추가로 기부했다. 이듬해에는 그간 등산로가 제대로 돼 있지 않고 곳곳에 불법 시설물들이 들어서 산림 훼손이 이루어졌던 구릉산의 ‘청남공원 조성 프로젝트’ 지원을 위한 조성기금 10억원을 기부했다.

 
청남공원은 5만5,173㎡(약 1만6,700평) 규모로 ‘도심 속 아이들을 위한 자연체험 공원’ 조성에 초점을 맞췄다. 체험공간으로는 자연생태교육장, 유아숲 체험장, 캠핑체험장, 배나무 과수체험장, 모험놀이터 등 다양한 시설을 갖췄다.

더불어 곳곳에 운동시설과 휴식시설, 전망대를 설치하여 아이부터 어르신까지 전 세대가 함께 나와 여가를 즐길 수 있도록 했다. 이는 향후 지역민들의 여가활동과 자연체험 확대에 크게 기여할 것으로 보여지고 있다.

 
준공식에는 문규영 아주그룹 회장 등 아주그룹 관계자와 류경기 중랑구청장 및 중랑구 관계자가 함께했다. 문규영 회장은 가족 대표로 한 축사에서 "창업주인 아버님은 오로지 사업보국이라는 신념 하나로 평생을 기업경영에만 매진한 진정한 기업인"이라며 "평생 딱 한 번 이사를 했을 정도로 검소한 삶을 몸소 실천하시며 자신의 생활에 대해서는 매우 엄격하셨다"고 회고했다.

류 구청장은 "사회 지도층의 사회 기여에 대해 책임을 강조하지만 언어로 얘기하는 것보다 몸소 실천하기는 어려운 일"이라며 "이 좋은 공간을 주민을 위해 선뜻 기부해주신 것은 사회와 지역사회에 빛과 소금과 같은 존경스러운 사례라고 생각한다"고 밝혔다.