Small Actions, Positive Influence: Shincheonji Andre Church Promotes Environmental Awareness Through Local Plogging

Plogging—a sustainable eco-friendly movement combining jogging or walking with trash picking—has emerged globally as a practical way to foster community health and environmental stewardship. When a local organization takes the lead in cleaning public streets, it does more than just remove litter; it gently encourages surrounding neighborhoods to reflect on everyday waste habits. A clear example of this civic responsibility took place on July 19. Andre Church of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus organized a neighborhood plogging campaign, gathering 32 church volunteers to clear waste along the streets surrounding their local training institute. Despite midsummer heat and high humidity, the participants systematically divided into coverage zones to gather cigarette butts, food packaging, and general household trash that had accumulated on nearby roads and sidewalks. Transforming Streets and Inspiring Local Residents The physical efforts of the volunteers quickly drew warm responses from ...
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Saving the Otter’s Paradise: How 4,500 Liters of Waste Were Cleared from Gadeokdo Island

A Hidden Sanctuary Under Threat

Gadeokdo Island’s Cheonseonghang Port is a place of rare beauty. It is a known habitat for the Eurasian Otter (Natural Monument No. 330), a first-class endangered species that requires the cleanest of waters to survive. However, as the port became a hotspot for campers and anglers, it faced a silent crisis: a mountain of illegally dumped trash and marine debris that began to overwhelm both the ecosystem and the local fishermen.

An Answer to a Local Cry for Help

This wasn't just a routine cleanup. The Shincheonji Volunteer Group (Busan-Gyeongnam Western Union) mobilized after receiving a direct request from the Cheonseong Fishermen's Association. On April 20, in honor of Earth Day, 70 dedicated volunteers from six branches—Busan, Masan, Geoje, Jinhae, Yangsan, and Tongyeong—converged on the port. Their mission was clear: restore the home of the otters and the livelihood of the fishermen.


The Massive Scale: 4,500 Liters Recovered

The sheer volume of waste was staggering. In just one day, the volunteers collected 4,500 liters of debris.

  • Beyond Household Trash: The team even recovered large industrial waste, including abandoned refrigerators that had washed up on the shore.

  • Tackling the Odor: For the local fishermen, this trash wasn't just an eyesore; it caused foul odors and hindered their daily preparations for fishing trips.

Gu Jong-seong, head of the Fishermen's Association, expressed his deep gratitude: "Marine waste flows in endlessly with the tide. Having a large-scale group like Shincheonji come and clear it all at once is incredibly effective. We couldn't ask for more."

Cultivating "Basic Civic Awareness"

While the cleanup was a success, the volunteers also focused on the root of the problem. They launched an awareness campaign for visitors, reminding everyone that protecting the ocean starts with a simple act: taking your trash back home. As volunteer Nam Young-hee noted, "Seeing a discarded refrigerator on the beach made me realize the severity of ocean pollution. It’s up to all of us to maintain this beauty through basic civic responsibility."

A Promise for a Greener Tomorrow

This wasn't a one-time event. Union President Lee Young-no emphasized that this is part of their ongoing "Nature, Let’s Be Green" (자연아 푸르자) initiative. The group pledged to maintain a long-term partnership with Cheonseong Port to ensure the otters—and the community—have a clean environment to thrive in.

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  1. Noah Brown2026년 5월 6일 오전 5:51

    With love and peace at their foundation, Shincheonji Volunteers carries out global social contribution projects in various fields including the environment, veterans' affairs, disabled sector, public interest and culture, transcending religion, race and national borders.

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