A giant installation encouraging donations stands at Gwanghwamun Plaza in downtown Seoul on Jan. 9, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyunSEOUL, January 9 (AJP) - An installation dubbed the "charity thermometer" in downtown Gwanghwamun reached 98.5 degrees Celsius on Friday, about a month after its launch as part of the annual campaign by the Community Chest of Korea to help those in need. With a goal to collect 450 billion Korean won (around US$306 million), its temperature rises by one degree for every 1 percent of the fundraising target.
The fundraising campaign will run until the end of the month, with organizers urging continued public participation to help push the thermometer past the 100-degree milestone.
A giant installation encouraging donations stands at Gwanghwamun Plaza in downtown Seoul on Jan. 9, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun
A giant installation encouraging donations stands at Gwanghwamun Plaza in downtown Seoul on Jan. 9, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun
A giant installation encouraging donations stands at Gwanghwamun Plaza in downtown Seoul on Jan. 9, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun Yoo Na-hyun Reporter shooting@ajupress.com