Daniel Ha makes a documentary about Gongsaengwon Welfare Foundation

Menlo Park resident Daniel Ha visited Gongsaengwon in Korea during his 2024 summer internship with the Gongsaengwon Welfare Foundation. Founded in 1928 by a Korean named Yun Chi-Ho during the Japanese Colonial Period, it cared for many orphans even in difficult times.

A Japanese woman who married Yun also dedicated herself to the orphanage and continued caring for the orphans even after her husband went missing. Over 3,000 orphans passed through Gongsaengwon, and its legacy continues today through the Gongsaengwon Welfare Foundation, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in five years. Daniel went to Korea and Japan to interview Yun’s son and daughter.

“I wanted to interview the son and daughter of Yun Chi-ho after learning about how the organization came to be,”  said Daniel.

Because of this special historical meaning, South Korean presidents and Japanese Prime Ministers often visited this institution.

Daniel made a documentary about its entire history to promote Gongsaengwon’s goal of a UN Declaration of World Orphans Day.