In the sweltering summer heat, a heartwarming moment between a Korean middle school student and an elderly street vendor has gone viral, touching thousands online. On July 7, in Dongducheon city , Gyeonggi Province, a second-year student gave up his savings to buy produce from an elderly woman selling goods on the roadside.
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| Middle School Boy Melts Hearts with Generosity during summer heatwave |
A video capturing this sincere act was posted on Instagram and quickly spread across social media platforms, sparking admiration and praise for the young boy’s selfless gesture.
The student, Ok (14), a second-year at Dongducheon Middle School, encountered the elderly vendor on his way home from school around 3 p.m. According to reports, the grandmother called out to him, asking him to take a look at the fresh produce she had harvested herself.
In the video, the boy is seen asking questions about the produce, showing genuine interest. The original poster wrote, “There’s an elderly woman who occasionally comes to sell her homegrown vegetables in front of my workshop. A student approached her, asked about the items, and then gently took her hand to get change from a nearby store.”
Ok had only one 50,000 KRW note in his pocket — money he had carefully saved up as emergency funds, since he doesn’t usually receive allowance. With no small bills between them, the boy led the elderly woman to a nearby mobile phone store, where he exchanged the note for smaller denominations.
In the end, he handed over 30,000 KRW and tried to walk away without taking anything. However, the grandmother insisted he accept something, and he randomly picked up a bag of kidney beans in return.
Ok told reporters, “It was just too hot that day. I hoped she could sell her goods quickly and go home to rest. I didn’t feel bad at all using my emergency money. It felt like that moment was exactly when I was meant to use it.”
The act of kindness is gaining attention not just online but also in his school community. Principal Yoon Tae-sook of Dongducheon Middle School said, “We gave Ok praise for his positive influence. He will receive a special merit award in front of the entire school during the summer break closing ceremony.”
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| A Letter from Principal of Dongducheon Middle School |
Learn Korean Through This News
Korean Text:
“한 중학교 남학생이 폭염 속 거리에서 농작물을 내다 파는 할머니를 위해 용돈을 털어 물건을 사, 잔잔한 감동을 주고있다.”
Key Vocabulary:
- 중학교 – middle school
- 남학생 – male student
- 폭염 – heat wave
- 거리 – street
- 농작물 – crops, produce
- 내다 팔다 – to bring out and sell
- 할머니 – elderly woman, grandmother
- 용돈 – allowance
- 털다 – to spend all, to empty out
- 물건 – goods, items
- 사다 – to buy
- 잔잔한 – subtle, quiet (emotionally gentle)
- 감동 – touching emotion, impression
- 주다 – to give
Grammar Notes:
- ~을/를 털다: to use up (usually money), 예: 용돈을 털어 = spending all his allowance
- ~을/를 내다 팔다: to bring out and sell something, 예: 농작물을 내다 파는 = selling crops
Translation:
"A middle school boy spent all his allowance to buy goods from an elderly woman selling crops on the street during a heat wave, quietly touching the hearts of many."
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