Ateez’s Hongjoong Donates to Empower Youth Dreams on Korea’s Children’s Day

On May 5, celebrated as Children’s Day in South Korea, Ateez leader Hongjoong made a heartfelt gesture by donating 25 million won (approximately $18,000 USD) to World Vision’s Dream Narae Club. His donation aims to sponsor five students, each receiving 5 million won, in support of their unique dreams and educational growth.

The Dream Narae Club is a special initiative designed to assist children, teenagers, and college students who possess a strong passion and talent in a specific field. The program empowers them to achieve their goals through personalized mentoring, self-driven planning, and consistent support.

“The joy of Children’s Day is precious, but my hope is that it becomes a lifetime source of courage,” Hongjoong shared. “With this donation, I wanted to give five kids wings of hope to pursue their dreams.”

This marks Hongjoong’s second donation around Children’s Day. In May 2023, he also contributed funds to support young caregivers in Korea. His philanthropic journey with World Vision began in 2022, when he first supported the Dream Narae Club. Since then, he has participated in multiple charity activities, including the Global 6K Virtual Running campaign with Ateez’s fanbase, Atiny, helping to bring clean water to Zambia.

Demonstrating continuous commitment to social causes, Hongjoong serves as an official ambassador for the Global 6K Marathon this year and actively promotes charitable participation. He was also inducted into the Bob Pierce Honors Club in 2023, a recognition awarded to high-donating benefactors by World Vision.

This summer, Ateez will embark on their highly anticipated “Ateez 2025 World Tour IN YOUR FANTASY”, kicking off in July and continuing to build on their global influence not only as artists but also as role models devoted to meaningful action.