Hope in Colors: Materializing Gratitude.

A PROJECT BECAME IMPACT.
Turning personal artwork into charity in Korea and handwritten gratitude in the U.S.,
through a student-led initiative for Korean War Veterans.

table of contents

1. 8 Letters: Handwritten messages on the "Freedom to Study."

2. 9 Designs: Original "Hope Cards" symbolizing resilience.

3. 100% Impact: All proceeds donated via Project Soldier KWV.

ABOUT THE PROJECT


Hope in Colors began as a simple habit
— drawing small objects that reflected how I was feeling.


At first, these drawings stayed in my sketchbook,
serving as a quiet way to process my thoughts.

Over time, I began to wonder
”what might happen if those drawings traveled beyond the page.”

That question led to two parallel initiatives:

  • In Korea, my artwork was printed as cards and sold, with all proceeds
    donated to organizations supporting Korean War Veterans.

  • In the United States, the same artwork became handwritten cards
    I sent to teachers, dorm parents, and friends, along with blank sets
    shared so others could write their own messages of appreciation.

What started as a private creative routine gradually became a project
that encouraged gratitude, connection, and giving across two communities
I call home — often in ways I hadn’t anticipated at the beginning.

The Philosophy

As an aspiring Chemical Engineer, I know every reaction requires a catalyst. I realized the "unseen catalyst" behind my academic freedom is the sacrifice of Korean War Veterans. I launched 'Hope in Colors' to convert abstract gratitude into 'Hope Cards'—physical mediums engineered to bridge our past heroes with future generations.

Why It Matters

I began it because I sensed something meaningful was often left unspoken.

There were people I wanted to thank but didn’t always know how.
There was history I respected but hadn’t actively acknowledged.
And there were emotions my drawings carried that felt incomplete unless they were shared.

“Hope in Colors” mattered to me because it allowed those quiet feelings to take shape.
It helped me express appreciation for people who support me,
show respect for the sacrifices of Korean War Veterans,
and create moments of connection through something as simple as a card.

More than anything, the project reminded me that meaning grows when creativity moves outward, not inward.

PROCESs

Step 1
— Artwork Selection & Digital Editing

I selected illustrations with clear emotional themes and digitized them for print,
carefully preserving their original tone.

Step 2
— Card Design & Production

The cards were produced in both Korea and the United States so the project could exist
in both places that are important to me.

Step 3
— Distribution Pathways

  • Korea: Cards were sold to people, with all proceeds donated to veteran support organizations.

  • United States: Cards were used for handwritten letters to teachers, dorm parents, and friends. Blank sets were also shared so others could participate by writing their own messages.

Step 4
— Community Sharing

What began as a personal action quietly expanded into a shared experience.
Others used the cards to write their own notes, creating a chain of kindness I hadn’t expected when the project first began