A Warm and Sincere Helping Hand Extended to Vietnam 2024-05-24

Smilegate Foundation “Healing Stars” Interview 

A Warm and Sincere Helping Hand Extended to Vietnam

Smilegate Foundation has been conducting volunteer activities for children with cleft lip and palate in Vietnam in partnership with Yonsei University Health System since 2019. Last year, in addition to medical staff and Smilegate employees, game users joined as volunteers, forming the Healing Stars team, which brought laughter, comfort, and hope to patients and their guardians. 

This year’s Healing Stars team consisted of nine members, including five Smilegate Vietnam and Smilegate Foundation employees and four game users. After spending a month preparing various activities to create joyful memories with the children, the team carried out volunteer work for over 500 hospitalized pediatric patients at Da Nang Maternity and Pediatric Hospital from April 18 to 21. 

We spoke with Kang Byunghun, Assistant Manager of Smilegate’s Ethical Management Team 2 and the leader of Healing Stars, along with university student Han Seoyeon, to hear about the value of sharing they experienced through volunteering. 

Kang Byunghun (right) and Han Seoyeon (left), participants in the 2024 Healing Stars program

Q. Hello. Could you please start by introducing yourselves and tell us what motivated you to apply for the 2024 Healing Stars?

Kang Byunghun Nice to meet you. I’m Kang Byunghun from Smilegate’s Ethics Management Office, where I handle audit tasks. I’ve been involved in volunteer activities for children since middle and high school. After joining Smilegate, I heard that there were opportunities to volunteer for children, and I really wanted to participate. As soon as I saw the Healing Stars announcement, I applied right away. 

Han Seoyeon Hello, I’m Han Seoyeon, a participant in the Smilegate Healing Stars volunteer program. I’ve always had a strong interest in infants and children, which led me to major in child care. I’m currently preparing to become a preschool teacher. I’ve also been actively looking for opportunities to volunteer with children, and when I came across the Healing Stars announcement, I applied immediately.

Q. You were also involved in planning the volunteer programs. What aspects did you focus on during the planning process? 

Kang Byunghun Our Healing Stars team had nine members. Each person had unique strengths—photography, games, Vietnamese language skills, and more—so we came up with fun ideas focusing on programs that the children would enjoy. We designed activities that utilized our team members’ talents while ensuring the kids could actively participate and have fun together.

Han Seoyeon The children ranged in age from 3 to 7, and I knew each child would have different interests and personalities. So we focused on planning activities that anyone could enjoy regardless of age. For example, we did sticker activities, made musical instruments, and created butterfly wings. The kids really enjoyed them, and it made us feel proud and fulfilled.

2024 Healing Stars – Kang Byunghun, Assistant Manager, Smilegate Ethics Management Office 

Q. This is your second time participating in Healing Stars. You must have gained some know-how from your previous experience. What set this year’s Healing Stars apart?

Kang Byunghun During my first time, we focused on activities children could engage in, like face painting and a wishing wall. But once we were on-site, we realized that not many kids could actually participate—many were too young or unable to leave their hospital rooms. So this time, we prepared more audiovisual events featuring fun sounds and colorful visuals that the children could enjoy passively. I was glad we could improve on what felt lacking in our first effort.

2024 Healing Stars – Han Seoyeon 

Q. This is your first time with Healing Stars. What was the on-site experience like? Were there any unexpected differences? 

Han Seoyeon I was worried about the environment and weather in Vietnam, but once I was there, the joy of being on-site made me forget all about the challenging conditions and the near-40°C heat. Of course, we were drenched in sweat every day (laughs). Before the trip, we prepared all sorts of activity supplies for over 500 children, and I felt proud knowing we were bringing them a helping hand. Once I began volunteering, I realized that bringing joy to others made me even happier. It really made me reflect deeply on placing ‘sharing’ at the center of my life’s values. 

2024 Healing Stars – Kang Byunghun, Assistant Manager, Smilegate Ethics Management Office 

Q. As the team leader, you were in charge of coordinating staff communication. What did you focus on to ensure smooth interactions?

Kang Byunghun I tried to be the “glue” of the team—someone who helps everyone keep smiling, even in difficult conditions. Since we were volunteering in a tough environment, it was important that no one got too worn out. I made a conscious effort to take the lead and be as accommodating as possible. Most of the volunteers were proactive, jumping in when something needed to be done. My role was to ensure everything ran smoothly and collaboration happened effortlessly.

2024 Healing Stars – Han Seoyeon 

Q. You were in charge of “program planning and supply management.” What kinds of materials did you prepare and manage?

Han Seoyeon We prepared a lot of things for the children. I drew inspiration from activities I had done during my childcare training. For example, I wanted to do story enactments, so I prepared translated storybooks, and I also brought a variety of materials for drawing and crafts. 

Q. Could you share a memorable episode from the volunteer site?

Kang Byunghun I remember one child who kept trying to take some of our volunteer supplies. We later found out that they had seen the balloon-blowing event and wanted to try it themselves. Once we gave them a balloon and a pump, they had so much fun doing it on their own. It was a misunderstanding caused by a lack of communication. That incident really reminded me how crucial communication is in overseas volunteering.

After that, we immediately wrote down important information on A4 sheets and posted them around the site. Even though we had interpreters, there were so many children and only a few volunteers, so detailed communication was tough. I think for next time, it would be helpful to divide the areas more clearly and involve more volunteers. 

Han Seoyeon I'd like to share what I felt through this experience. The biggest emotion I felt during this overseas volunteering was gratitude. I went thinking I’d be the one helping others, but after meeting the children and their parents, it felt like I was the one being helped. Realizing that my actions could bring support to many people filled me with happiness and gratitude. It didn’t feel like I was doing volunteer work—it felt like I came back healed.

2024 Healing Stars – Kang Byunghun (right) and Han Seoyeon (left) 

Q. Many 2024 Healing Stars participants said they felt Smilegate Foundation’s “genuineness,” which increased their trust in the foundation. In what aspects did you experience this sincerity?

Han Seoyeon Rather than a specific episode, I think you naturally sense the mindset of those you’re volunteering with. You can tell whether someone is genuinely committed to the work or just opting for what’s easy and convenient, without much regard for the beneficiaries. The Smilegate Foundation staff always took the lead in resolving any unexpected issues or inconveniences. Watching them act that way, I realized that such sincere actions only come from genuine dedication. 

Kang Byunghun Through various volunteering experiences, the biggest challenge I faced was ‘cost.’ Even if we planned great activities, many of them were canceled due to budget constraints. But with the Healing Stars program, I had no such concerns. I really appreciated the atmosphere where the focus was not on costs but on what kind of volunteer work would truly benefit the children. This allowed our activities on-site to run smoothly. 

This time, members of the Smilegate Foundation board also visited the site and personally went around the hospital rooms to hand out gifts. They kept checking to make sure no child was left out. Watching how they genuinely tried to reach out to the children—not as a showy act but with real warmth—made me feel that the entire Smilegate Foundation is truly rooted in sincerity.