Establishment of Wolsan Scholarship with accumulated 4 million USD donated with “A heart to repay the kindness of parents”

Active U.S.A Inc. standing in LA clothing and fashion industry as a Korean immigration success story

Led established YU American Federation Alumni Association as the former first chairman

[January 12, 2022]

  “I will send 2 million USD as soon as I return to the USA. Parents of our times lived dedicated life for their children for their whole life. I’d like to support juniors’ learning with a heart to repay the kindness of parents. YU should lead cultivation of talents based on good characters!”

  YU (President CHOI Oe-chool) received a large gift from a US alumnus on the 75th anniversary at beginning of 2022. Chairman LEE Don of Active U.S.A. Inc., a large clothing company in LA, expressed to donate 2 million USD.

  Chairman LEE called on YU President CHOI Oe-chool on his way to return to the USA after visiting his mother in Korea during the year-end and new year holidays. He was returning with a heavy heart after a short pleasure to see his 96-year mother. Especially, he had to follow his tight schedule to return to the USA on the next day of completion of self-quarantine after entry into Korea due to COVID-19.

Chairman LEE donated 1 million USD to YU, his alma mater, in 2012 and Wolsan Scholarship is being operated. Scholarship fund donated by him reaches 4 million USD including 1 million USD additionally donated in 2018. Wolsan Scholarship is the largest one in the private scholarship being operated by YU.

Wolsan Scholarship was established with the nom de plume (Wolsan) of his deceased[late] father (LEE Dong-ho) under joint names with his mother, LEE Hong-sik Wolsan LEE Dong-ho (1923-2011) is the 15th generation of LEE Eon-jeok (1491-1553), one of Five Oriental Sages in Joseon Dynasty, and has Chairman LEE (eldest son), LEE Seung-yeon, LEE Jeong-hyeon, and LEE Hyeong (Professor of Department of Neurology and Management Strategy Manager, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center). LEE Dong-ho was the owner of Daeseongheon, Gyeongsangbukdo Tangible Cultural Property No. 34 in Yangdongmaeul registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Chairman LEE has been leading cultural heritage preservation including restoration of a 300-year old house through historical investigation with Gyeongsangbukdo since his father’s decease.

  Chairman LEE donated 1 million USD of scholarship fund to YU, his alma mater, in 2012 to repay the kindness of his father and mother died in 2011 and has been supporting juniors with establishment of Wolsan Scholarship. The scholarship students work in various areas of society as lawyers, architectures, and teachers, etc. after graduation. Chairman LEE has been continuing donations for University Development Fund and General Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, etc. as well as Wolsan Scholarship and made large contributions in development of the university and alumni association.

Chairman LEE is a successful US businessman and leads strengthening of global capability of the youth in Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas as well as YU juniors as a foreign adviser of Gyeongsangbukdo. He invited more than 100 college students as intern workers of Active U.S.A. and made sufficient support to enhance practical capability.

  Chairman LEE has student ID 73 of Department of Architectural Engineering, YU, went to the USA in 1986, established Active U.S.A. Inc. in the next year, and continued success. He experienced a hardship to lose his whole property due to LA riots occurred in 1992 but is a positional person who succeeded in comeback based on his credibility and excellent leadership accumulated as a businessman. He works as a director of Pacific City Bank (a USA Korean-person bank), leading CEO of World Korean Business Convention, director of Hoejae LEE Eon-jeok Commemorative Business Association, foreign adviser of Gyeongsangbukdo, and chairman of Daegu & Gyeongbuk Fraternity Scholarship in Southern California. He continued donation activities in spite of residing in the USA and was selected as the 3rd foreign Honor Society of Community Chest of Korea for “Fruit of Love.”

 Chairman LEE has been leading development of his alma mater and alumni as well as donation of scholarship. Chairman LEE led establishment of American Federation Alumni Association for the first time in the universities in the south of the Hangang River which is one of foreign base alumni associations of YU. At that time, Chairman LEE took charge of preparatory chairperson and persuaded alumni and encouraged their participation in visiting major cities in the USA. Chairman LEE served in the post of the first Chairman of American Federation Alumni Association after Chairman of YU LA Alumni Association.

in the meaningful year of 75th anniversary. I respect the sharing life of Chairman LEE who passed the love received from his parents to juniors as a whole. Juniors will also feel the heart of grace felt by Chairman LEE from his parents. This year of 75th anniversary will be a new starting point to cultivate talents to make contributions in human society. I will do my best so that the scholarship fund donated by Chairman LEE is used as an important foundation to cultivate talents to make contributions in human society.”

  Meanwhile, YU granted Proud YU Person Prize in 2006 and Honorary Doctor of Business Administration in 2014 to commend the accomplishment of Chairman LEE.