Chairman of Booyoung Group shares his love with donation of 600 buses to Laos

“Southeast Asia’s Korean wave Santa Claus” Mr Lee Joong-keun, PhD, Chairman of the Booyoung Group, has expressed his love for Laos through the donation of 600 buses.
Following the donation of 1,200 buses to Cambodia and 600 buses to Laos, he said “I hope the national power of both countries expands.”
Chairman of the Booyoung Group, Mr Lee Joong-keun, received the Presidential Medal of Merit and honorary citizenship for his contributions to social and economic development.
“I hope that the national power of Laos will be expanded through these buses and an improved public transport system, and that this will serve as an opportunity to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Laos,” he said.

Chairman of the Booyoung Group, Mr Lee Joong-keun, who is carrying out various social contribution activities without borders to the extent that he is called the ‘Korean wave Santa Claus’ in Southeast Asia, is continuing to donate buses beyond Cambodia to Laos. Chairman Lee donated 1,200 buses to Cambodia in February of this year and also donated 600 buses to Laos to improve public transport in major cities in Cambodia and Laos.
The Booyoung Group attended a donation ceremony for the 600 buses in front of the Lao Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday. The event was attended by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Chairman of the Booyoung Group, Mr Lee Joong-keun, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and Head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Alounxay Sounnalath, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos, Mr Jung Yung Soo, officials from relevant Lao ministries, and Booyoung Group officials.
Booyoung Group Chairman Mr Lee Joong-keun, PhD, promised to donate 600 buses to improve public transport in Laos, solve traffic congestion problems, and contribute to Laos’ economic and social development. Converted into monetary terms, it is equivalent to US$13.2 million, or approximately 300 billion kip.
The 150 buses donated to Laos have already arrived, and 450 buses are scheduled to be delivered by April 2024.
On this day, before the donation ceremony, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, on behalf of the Lao government, recognised Chairman Lee for his contribution to the social and economic development of Laos and awarded him honorary citizenship of Laos and the Presidential Medal of Development Merit, the highest decoration awarded to a foreigner and the first-class development medal.
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said “If public transport is revitalised and the use of private vehicles is reduced through the Booyoung Group’s donation of buses, Laos’ traffic congestion problem will be solved and the safety and convenience of the Lao people will be improved. I would like to thank Booyoung Group Chairman Mr Lee Joong-keun, PhD, for his efforts in social development in Laos.”

This is not the first time the Booyoung Group has donated to Laos. So far, they have donated about 2,000 digital pianos and 30,000 blackboards and provided about US$7.8 million in funds for the construction of 300 elementary schools and US$400,000 in development funds for the construction of a Taekwondo centre.
In addition, Chairman of the Booyoung Group, Mr Lee Joong-keun, established the WooJung Education and Culture Foundation in Korea in 2008, and since 2010, scholarships worth approximately US$7.7 million have been provided to a total of 2,366 foreign students from 42 countries, including from Laos.
He expressed the hope that international students studying in an unfamiliar environment will have dreams and hopes, devote themselves to their studies, and grow into global leaders who will connect their home country and South Korea in the future.
Chairman of the Booyoung Group, Mr Lee Joong-keun’s special decision was behind the donation of air-conditioned buses to Laos. While on a business trip to Laos, Chairman Lee saw parents riding their children back and forth on motorcycles without protection even in the rain or in scorching temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.
He said “If a child falls asleep on the back of a motorcycle and loses his grip, this is a dangerous situation where life can be lost. I thought this could happen, so I felt strongly that there was a need for safe public transport that could save those children without getting hurt,” and decided to donate the buses.
The Booyoung Group’s humanitarian support activities are expected to solve Laos’ public transport problems and significantly improve the quality of life of residents and tourists. In addition, the company’s good deeds are expected to go beyond simple donations and play the role of private diplomats, which will be of great help in strengthening friendly relations between countries.
Booyoung Lao bank: Established - 14.09.2009, Official opening - 23.09.2009.
Booyoung Lao SEA Games Golf Club: Official opening – 17.01.2010.
(27-hole Golf Course, Golf Driving Range, Hotel (4-star) 94 rooms, 3 storeys).

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update December 15, 2023)