Fashion Designer and YouTuber Milanonna Shares Her Inspiring Journey of Philanthropy
Fashion designer and YouTube creator Milanonna (Jang Myung-sook) has shared the story behind her decision to donate her earnings. Born in 1952, she is known as South Korea's first student to study in Milan, and her YouTube channel boasts approximately 940,000 subscribers.
On the 887th episode of MBC's variety show 'Radio Star,' which aired on the 30th, Milanonna appeared alongside chef Choi Hyun-seok, actor Kwon Yul, and comedian Lim Woo-il to share their stories. Milanonna reflected on two life-changing events that left a significant impact on her life.
Fashion Designer and YouTuber Milanonna Shares Her Inspiring Journey of Philanthropy
She began by asking, "Do you remember the collapse of the Sampoong Department Store in 1995?" She continued, "At that time, I was working there as a consultant. As a buying director, I went to the Sampoong Department Store three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and taught at a university on Tuesdays and Thursdays. But on that Thursday evening in June, precisely at a few minutes past 5 PM, the building collapsed," she recalled, leaving the audience in shock.
Milanonna vividly recounted the day of the incident, saying she heard sirens while returning home from an art exhibition. "My house was near the Sampoong Department Store, and I heard the sirens. When I got home, international calls from overseas were not going through. When I turned on the TV, I saw the workplace I used to go to had collapsed overnight. It was truly a great tragedy," she shared, revealing her painful memories.
Fashion Designer and YouTuber Milanonna Shares Her Inspiring Journey of Philanthropy
She also opened up about another painful memory, her eldest son's brain surgery. Milanonna said, "It's a personal matter, but in 1994, when my eldest son was a senior in high school, he underwent brain surgery due to an arteriovenous malformation. He suddenly collapsed during dinner, saying, 'My head hurts so much.'" Recalling the situation, she said, "After an all-night surgery, the next morning, I stood in front of the mirror, and my face was pale, and my hair had turned white. It felt like I had become an old woman overnight."
Fashion Designer and YouTuber Milanonna Shares Her Inspiring Journey of Philanthropy
Milanonna added, "The doctor who finished the surgery told me, 'He might go soon, so be prepared.' At that moment, I prayed earnestly. I vowed in my heart, 'If you save him, I will help children in need.' Fortunately, my son recovered healthily and is now living well as a member of society with a good partner." She confessed that these two events significantly changed her life.
Fashion Designer and YouTuber Milanonna Shares Her Inspiring Journey of Philanthropy
Milanonna revealed that she has been consistently practicing philanthropy since then. She explained, "It's not because I'm particularly kind that I survived," and added, "Since then, I've been donating to orphanages and visiting them once a week to spend time with the children." She also donates all her YouTube channel earnings and royalties, stating, "All my earnings are used for those in need. At my age, it's modest for me to use. I have savings and a pension, so I lack nothing," expressing her beliefs.
Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr