Faceless Angel of Jeonju

The "Faceless Angel of Jeonju"^[1] is an unidentified benefactor who has been making donations to the Nosong-dong Community Center in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea for over 20 years. Donations by the Faceless Angel appear to have started in 2000, and anonymous donations have continued around Christmas every year.^[2] The most recent donation was made on December 20, 2024, and the cumulative donation amount has reached approximately 1,044,830,000 won.^[3]

The Faceless Angel makes donations by placing donations, consisting mainly of cash and piggy banks, in an A4 paper box at a specific location near the community center and then calling the center to inform them of the location. Along with this, they put a simple note in the box wishing support to those in need; in some cases, they add other messages or leave nothing at all. They have become a topic of public discussion because they have been making such large donations for decades while making a rigorous effort to keep their identity strictly private. Furthermore, every year-end, attention from not only the staff at the community center but also the local community and the media focuses on whether the "Faceless Angel" will visit.

The Faceless Angel's donations are distributed to low-income families and child heads of households in the region through the Community Chest of Korea. In 2009, a monument honoring the Faceless Angel's spirit was erected, and the area around the Nosong-dong Community Center was named "Angel's Path," with a memorial park also established. Local residents commemorate October 4th every year as "Angel's Day" and hold charity events for the needy. Cases of anonymous donations following the Faceless Angel's example have increased, and plays and movies inspired by his good deeds have also been produced.

Note from the time of the 2018 donation

The Faceless Angel leaves donations at a specific location near the Nosong-dong Community Center in Jeonju, calls the center to inform them of the location, and then disappears; therefore, the Angel's identity—including name, age, face, and occupation—is completely unknown.^[4] Even the community center staff receiving the donations can only guess that it is the "Faceless Angel" who visits every year based on the voice on the phone, the method of delivery, and the content of the message.^[5] Since the voices on the phone range from women in their 20s to men in their 50s and 60s, there has been speculation that a family takes turns performing these good deeds.^[4][6][7]

Since 2005, when the good deeds began to become widely known, various theories have been raised regarding the Angel's identity. These included the theory that the Angel is an organized crime member or pimp who started performing good deeds to atone for past wrongdoings but finds it difficult to reveal their identity, or the theory that the Angel is a successful, deeply religious businessman who sets out to help the needy every year in memory of their impoverished childhood.^[8] At the time of the donation in 2009, the note unusually mentioned that the donor was upholding the wishes of "Mother in Heaven." Since the donor considers helping those in need to be a promise made to Mother, there was cautious speculation that they would continue their good deeds in the future.^[9]

As public attention gradually increased, there were attempts to reveal the Angel's identity, and each time, the Angel appeared to be strictly protecting their identity. In 2004, community center staff attempted to identify the donor, but failed because the donation date was moved up.^[10] In 2009, marking the 10th year of donations, media interest surged; some media outlets even conducted two days of undercover reporting and installed hidden cameras, but failed to track them down. Apparently aware of this, the donor delivered the donation a few days after the expected date.^[7][9] During the donation theft incident in 2019, the donor even called the community center and asked them to "please be careful not to expose my vehicle and identity, even if a police investigation takes place."^[11]

Meanwhile, there are also voices of concern regarding the excessive interest in the donor's identity. The city of Jeonju has stated that it will not track down the donor's identity in respect of their wish to remain anonymous,^[12] and in 2013, Yonhap News Agency argued for self-reflection on the excessive interest in the donor's identity.^[13]

The activities of the Faceless Angel began on April 3, 2000.^[14] At the time, a male student who appeared to be in the third grade of elementary school visited the civil affairs office of Jungnosong 2-dong and placed a piggy bank containing 584,000 won on the counter with the words, "Please help a poor person." The elementary student said that he had been asked to do this by a man in his 50s and then disappeared.^[4][15] On December 26, 2001, another piggy bank containing 742,800 won was delivered anonymously to the community center.^[4]

In 2002, on May 4, a man believed to be in his 60s called and left a bundle containing 1 million won in cash in front of the disabled assistance bell in front of the community center, asking that it be used for underprivileged children.^[16] On December 24, the same man called again, asking that there was a bundle containing a piggy bank and cash in the public phone booth next to the community center and that it be used to help the needy. He then donated 1 million won in cash and a piggy bank filled with 612,060 won in coins.^[16] It was from this time that the good deeds of the "Faceless Angel" began to be reported in the media.^[16]

On the morning of December 23, 2003, a man believed to be in his 30s or 40s called again, asking people to check the public phone booth next to the community center, asking that the money be used to help the needy.^[17] Inside a paper shopping bag in the booth was 5 million won in 10,000-won bills and a piggy bank filled with 367,330 won in coins. A note found inside the shopping bag read, "I am so happy that I was able to do more this year than in other years because I worked hard. I hope that at least in our neighborhood, there will be no children going hungry.^[17] The following year, on the morning of December 22, 2004, a man presumed to be in his 50s called and left a shopping bag containing cash, a piggy bank, and a note, just in the same location as before, at the monument in front of the community center. The donation amounted to 5 million won in cash and 448,350 won in coins.^[18][15]

At noon on December 26, 2005, a man presumed to be in his late 30s called. Starting this year, as Jungno 2-dong was merged into Nosong-dong due to the consolidation of administrative districts, the donation was delivered to the Nosong-dong office.^[8][19] Just like in previous years, a shopping bag containing cash and piggy banks was left in the flowerbed next to the underground parking lot of the dong office; it contained 10 million won in cash and 455,180 won in coins. A note included with the bag read, "It snowed too much this year. Please give this to neighbors who are shivering in the cold."^[24][8] On December 21, 2006, it was reported that a man believed to be in his 40s had left a donation in the same location. The shopping bag contained 8 million won in cash and 513,210 won in coins (three piggy banks), and a note read, "I am so happy and grateful to be able to share our family's small sincerity with neighbors in need."^[25][26] On December 27, 2007, at 11:00 AM, a call was received from a man in his late 30s who said he had left a donation in the exact same spot as the previous year, and a donation of 298,100 won in coins and 20 million won in cash was received.^[27][4]

On December 23, 2008, at 1:40 PM, a call was received from a man in his late 40s who said he had also left a donation in the exact same spot, and a donation of 20 million won in cash and 381,000 won in coins was received. The message written on the note was, "To all the young heads of households! Stay strong."^[14][28] In 2009, as media interest increased, a call was made past Christmas^[29] on December 28 at 11:00 AM. The delivery location was also changed to next to a vending machine in the open space of the community center, and a cardboard box containing a piggy bank and bundles of cash was left. The donation amounted to 80 million won and 265,920 won in coins found in a piggy bank, marking the 10th year of donations.^[30][31] A note included with the donation read: "Just as all mothers in Korea did, this is money my mother saved by not spending it and being frugal. I hope this will be used to help neighbors in need, honoring my mother's wishes. Happy New Year. I want to convey my respect and love to my mother in heaven."^[31][32][7]

The donation amount at the time of the 2018 donation. She left behind a donation worth 50 million won, combining 50,000 won bills and coins from a piggy bank. At 11:55 a.m. on December 28, 2010, a man presumed to be in his 40s called and hung up after saying, "We do something every year to show our sincerity; please check the flowerbed in the alley next to the hair salon near the community center." A piggy bank and cash were delivered inside an A4 cardboard box to a different location than in previous years, and the donations for this year totaled 35 million won in cash and 341,620 won in coins. No note was left.^[33][34] The following year, on December 20, 2011, at 12:10 PM, a man in his 40s called and said, "There is a money box under a Trajet XG parked on the road next to Woori Laundry near the community center, so please come and pick it up." Inside an A4 cardboard box was a donation totaling 50,242,100 won, including 10 envelopes containing 100 50,000-won bills each and 242,100 won in coins from a piggy bank. That year, he left a simple note saying, "Please help neighbors in need. Stay strong and have a Happy New Year."^[35][36]

On December 27, 2012, at 1:53 PM, a man presumed to be in his 40s or 50s called and said, "Look near the 'Faceless Angel Monument' in the flowerbed near the community center," and asked, "Please use this for neighbors in need." As in previous years, an A4 cardboard box contained 50 million won in 50,000-won bills and a piggy bank, and the total donation amounted to 50,304,600 won.^[37][38] No note was left this year.^[39] In 2013, at 11:15 AM on December 30th—the latest date among all donations in history—a call was made asking to check the same spot as the previous year, and a donation totaling 49,246,740 won, including bills and a piggy bank, was delivered. A note was also delivered saying, "To all the young heads of households, please stay strong even if things are difficult, and have a very happy New Year."^[40][41] The following year, on December 29, 2014, at 3:40 PM, a person presumed to be in their 40s called again. "I am short on time, so I am leaving a box behind the vehicle next to the dry cleaner. Please pick it up quickly before someone else takes it. Please make sure to use it for the needy," ^[42] and the total amount of donations received reached 50,304,390 won. This year, a note with a similar message to the previous year was added. With this, the Faceless Angel marked the 15th year of donations. ^[42][43]

In 2015, a call was made at 9:00 AM on December 30, and this time, it was revealed that "money was placed in the woods near the streetlights in the park behind the Community Center." The method of donation was the same as in previous years, and the enclosed note also contained a message of support for child heads of households. The total amount of donations reached 50,339,810 won. ^[44][45][46] In 2016, on December 28 at 11:00 AM, a man presumed to be in his 50s called and left a message saying to check the forest at Cheonsa Park behind the community center, and received a donation of 50,217,940 won, consisting of bills and coins. A note was heard along with the call, which read, "To all young heads of households, it has been a difficult year, but I hope you do not forget that we have the gift of hope. Happy New Year."^[47][48] In 2017, on December 28 at 11:00 AM, the same time as the previous year, a middle-aged man called and hung up after saying that he had left the items in the same location. Inside the box were a donation of 60,279,210 won, consisting of 50,000-won bills and a piggy bank, along with a note that read, "To all young heads of households, you have worked hard through a difficult year. I believe things will be better next year. Happy New Year."^[49] In 2018, a call was made on December 27 at 9:07 a.m., leaving a message asking that the contents of a box of A4 paper located at the entrance of the community center's underground parking lot be used for neighbors in need. The donation for that year amounted to 50,201,950 won, and a note was also left saying, "To all the young heads of households, you have worked hard. Stay strong in the New Year."^[5]

On December 30, 2019, around 10:03 a.m., a man called to express his intention to donate, stating, "I have placed a box containing donation money and goods behind the community center, so please share it with neighbors in need." A community center employee visited the location, but the donation box was not there. The man called three more times, repeatedly providing the location of the box by asking, "There is a box behind (the community center)," "Have you found the donation?" and "Have you not found the item yet?" The staff searched the area thoroughly for over 30 minutes but failed to find it, eventually reporting the theft to the police at 10:37. The man, who made a fifth call at 10:46, was reportedly very distressed upon hearing the news that the donation had disappeared.^[11]

Upon receiving the report, the police faced difficulties in the investigation due to the lack of CCTV cameras near the scene, but they apprehended two thieves at their homes in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, and Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, just four hours after the crime.^[50] The suspects were high school classmates in their 30s who had been staking out the community center in an SUV for several days prior to the donation before stealing the money.^[51] However, a resident who found this suspicious noted down the license plate number in advance and reported it immediately, leading to a swift arrest.^[50] The perpetrators were sentenced to one year and six months and one year in prison, respectively, at the appeal trial in June of the following year, 2020.^[52]

The safely recovered donation was personally delivered to Nosong-dong Head Choi Gyu-jong by Kim Young-geun, the head of the Criminal Investigation Division at Wansan Police Station who solved the case, after visiting the community center on January 2, 2020. The donation, contained in an A4 paper box, included 5 million won in cash and a piggy bank filled with coins, totaling 60,163,210 won, along with a note that read, "Cheer up, child heads of households."^[11] With this, the Faceless Angel's donation marked its 20th year.

In the following year, 2020, there were concerns from those around that the donation might not come this year due to the discouragement caused by the theft case and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[51] However, at 11:24 AM on December 29, a man in his 50s called the community center and said, "Community center owner"I placed a box of A4 paper in the alleyway. I hope this helps those struggling due to COVID-19," he said, conveying his intention to donate. Inside the box were 70,128,980 won in cash, along with the message: "I apologize for the commotion caused by me last year. It was a difficult year due to COVID-19. I believe you will overcome it." Inside was a piece of paper with the words, “Happy New Year to all child heads of households, and stay healthy.”^[52]

On December 29, 2021, at 10:05 a.m., an anonymous call was received at the Community Center stating that a donation had been left in the cargo compartment of a truck in front of Seongsan Church. The donation for that year amounted to 70,094,960 won, along with a note containing a message of support for child heads of households and the words, “Please help our underprivileged neighbors, and I hope you have a warm year.”^[53][54]

Around 11:01 a.m. on December 27, 2022, a call was received at the Community Center from a middle-aged man stating that a box had been placed under a kindergarten vehicle in front of Seongsan Church. The total cash amounted to 76,005,580 won. A letter included with the cash read, “I hope this will be of some small help to the students in Jeonju who have to give up their dreams due to a lack of college tuition, and to the child heads of households.” “Stay strong and I hope all your endeavors come true. Happy New Year,” was written on it.^[55]

On December 27, 2023, at 10:00 AM, a phone call was received from a middle-aged man who said he had placed a box behind a church sign near the community center, and the total donation was 80,063,980 won. The box read, “You have worked hard this year. Please help our neighbors in need.” It contained a message saying, "Thank you."^[2]

Around 9:26 a.m. on December 20, 2024, an anonymous phone call was received at the Nosong-dong Community Service Center in Jeonju City saying, "I have placed (the donation) under a truck opposite the Gijachon restaurant (nearby), so please use it for the needy." Along with 80,038,850 won in cash, a letter was left that read, "To all young heads of households, have a warm year and a Happy New Year." With this, the cumulative donations surpassed 1 billion won, bringing the total donations to 1,044,836,520 won.^[56][3]

According to a 2015 report, the donations from the "Faceless Angel" are used to help needy neighbors in the Nosong-dong area through the Jeollabuk-do Community Chest of Korea. The Nosong-dong Community Center has been distributing fixed amounts to selected low-income households rather than providing concentrated support to specific individuals, such as those with severe disabilities. This is in response to the Faceless Angel's request that the funds be used for vulnerable groups, including the elderly living alone, child heads of households, and grandparent-headed households, whenever they make a donation.^[57]

In the early days, the funds were mainly used to purchase rice and coal briquettes, but starting in 2002, cash payments ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 won per household began to be distributed in response to residents' wishes to "buy and use what they need."^[57] As of 2015, a total of approximately 4,600 households in Nosong-dong benefited from the Faceless Angel's donations, accounting for 74% of the village's total 6,175 households.^[57] Commemorative Project and Work

On September 4, 2009, Jeonju Mayor Song Ha-jin announced that, in honor of the Faceless Angel, a road near the Dong Office would be designated as a memorial road and a monument to the Faceless Angel would be erected.^[58] The monument was completed in mid-December and was erected in the flowerbed in front of the Dong Office on January 12, 2010.^[59][60] The memorial stone was made to be 1.2m wide and 1m high and is engraved with the words, "Faceless Angel, you are a true person who makes the world bright and beautiful like a candle in the darkness. We love you."^[60]

In the same year, 2010, the name of the 750m stretch of road in front of the Nosong-dong Community Center was changed to 'Faceless Angel Street'.^[61][62] Starting in 2011, a project plan to develop the villages around Nosong-dong into 'Angel Village' was implemented, and cultural spaces for residents and theme zones were constructed.^[63][64][65] In October 2012, a 2km section from the Catholic Diocese of Jeonju to the Nosong-dong Community Center was designated as 'Angel's Path'.^[62] In February 2015, a mural titled 'Angel's Wings' was erected to honor the spirit of the Faceless Angel.^[66] In February 2020, a sculpture commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Faceless Angel's donation was installed in Angel Park.^[67]

On April 20, 2010, Jeonju City selected the Faceless Angel as the recipient of the 'Jeonju Citizen's Award Special Public Service Award'. As the award was of symbolic significance, the plaque was initially presented to the Nosong-dong Faceless Angel Monument Promotion Committee and later displayed at the Community Center or City Hall.^[68][69] In 2023, he was selected as the recipient of the Grand Prize for the 'HD Hyundai Honor Award,' presented by the HD Hyundai 1% Sharing Foundation to citizen heroes. Considering the recipient's unknown identity and the significance of his activities, the prize money of 200 million won was used to help the underprivileged.^[2]

Works were also produced to honor the Faceless Angel. On December 9, 2011, Changjak Geukhoe, a theater group from the Jeonbuk region, presented the play *Nosong-dong Angel*, a reinterpretation based on the 'Faceless Angel.'^[70][71] In April 2017, the film *Angels Are Viruses*, based on the Faceless Angel, was screened at the Jeonju International Film Festival.^[72] Produced by the Jeonju Film Commission and directed by Kim Sung-jun, this film features a storyline that unfolds as a reporter visiting the Nosong-dong Community Center to cover the "Faceless Angel." It was released in general theaters on January 6, 2021, three years after its screening at the film festival.^[73]

Influenced by the Faceless Angel, anonymous donations mimicking the story have also increased. In 2009, the *Dong-A Ilbo* reported that a so-called "Faceless Angel Syndrome" was emerging in Jeonju, with an increasing number of cases where people left money or rice at community centers without revealing their identities. It was reported that on December 16, 2009, "anonymous angels" deposited 3.17 million won at three locations, including the Palbok-dong, Seosin-dong, and Wansan-dong Community Centers, and that there were more than 10 instances of money and rice being left at community centers in the city that month alone.^[7] In 2011, the Nosong-dong Community Center stated, "After the 'Angel' visits, we receive about 30 to 50 donations."^[74] In 2017, the *JoongAng Ilbo* reported that the so-called "Angel Effect" had occurred, with an increasing number of citizens sponsoring various welfare projects promoted by Jeonju City, such as the "Mother's Table for Children Who Go Hungry," without revealing their identities.^[75]

In order to emulate the good deeds of the faceless angel, the residents of Nosong-dong have designated October 4th as "Angel Day," a date reminiscent of the number 1004 (→ angel), and commemorate it. In addition, they have been holding sharing events, such as organizing the "Angel Festival" together with six neighboring districts to help underprivileged neighbors.^[6][5] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Angel Festival was held as a virtual online festival in 2020 and 2021, and was held in person again for the 12th festival in 2022.^[76]

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