“MBAs shouldn’t just study. They should be socially responsible.”

Students from the KUBS Korea MBA program are realizing the culture of giving. They have decided to create the “Beautiful Foundation’ fund with the donations that was collected at the ‘Year-End Party’. This is the first time a MBA program in Korea has made donations to a non-profit organization under its name. The fund which was raised under the name KU Korea MBA will be used for a project operated by the Beautiful Foundation. The project provides tuition support to university students who have left orphanages. With the creation of the fund, Korea MBA students can continue to make donations to their Korea MBA exclusive account at the Beautiful Foundation.

Jung-A Ryu, the President of the KU Korea MBA Students Association said “Through a Korea MBA alumni working at the Beautiful Foundation, we learned that many college students who left orphanages struggle and face hardships. We decided to support these students because more than anyone else Korea MBA students, who work during the day and study by night, understand that these students have it hard.”

Korea MBA held a charity auction during last year’s ‘Year-End Party’ to raise funds. Korea MBA students auctioned various articles to help the students in need. They donated precious belongings such as a celadon given by the President of Korea, a poster personally signed by a famous movie actor, and a mink fur hat etc. The winning bid for a dinner date with Hasung Jang, the Dean of KUBS was 700,000 won. A total of 8.89 million won was raised. This was less than the 10 million won required to open a donation account at the Beautiful Foundation.

However, other alums pitched in. MBA schools exchanging with KU MBA such as Yonsei, Ewha Womens and Sunkyunkwan also made donations. These efforts helped to reach their initial goal and a total of 10.40 million won was collected. The Korea MBA Students Association plans to continue with promotional activities and spread the culture of giving to other MBA programs at KU and other universities.

The executive director of the Beautiful Foundation, Jung-sook Yoon said “In the past we’ve had companies make donations and provide volunteer services. This is the first time MBA students have created and pledged to maintain funds. I hope that through KU Korea MBA’s example, as social leaders, many MBA students who are studying business will have a chance to think about social responsibility.”