한국국제교류재단

KF volunteers and staff recently paid a visit to the senior citizens’ center near Deungchon Subway Station in Gangseo-gu, western Seoul. There they teamed up with the senior citizens making dumplings and tteokguk, rice cake soup, while enjoying friendly conversation. Though the young visitors had never made dumplings before, their elders were eager to share their wealth of knowledge, demonstrating how to fill and seal the delicate dumpling skins.
  Under their expert guidance, the volunteers were soon able to make beautiful dumplings, even though it was their first time to try their hand at the dish. As the tteokguk bubbled away in the kitchen, with the dumplings added to the soup, the group played yut nori, the traditional Korean board game. The game ended in an overwhelming victory for the seniors, with the defeated youngsters no match for their wily counterparts.
  Among the seniors, a grandmother named Kkotbun made an especially big impression on the group. “I am truly happy that these young friends came to visit, cooked with us, and played with us,” she said with a smile.
  Kkotbun’s happiness was contagious, spreading through the group and filling the volunteers with positive energy. Before finishing the day’s program, the team packed up the remaining dumplings and put them into the freezer so that the seniors could enjoy them on a later date. The group vowed to come back soon and make dumplings for the seniors that looked and tasted even better than their first attempt.

KFVN Reporter Kim Byung-sub

#Volunteering#Senior_Center#Dumpling